New Delhi, February 18 – Residents of the national capital experienced light rain on Wednesday, a day after Delhi recorded the highest temperature of the year so far, reaching 30.9 degrees Celsius. Air quality also remained a concern, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 228 at 8 a.m., placing it in the "poor" category.
On Tuesday, Delhi's air quality was also in the "poor" category, with an AQI of 259, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to CPCB data on Wednesday, several areas of the city reported high AQI levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 285, Ashok Vihar 264, Burari Crossing 275, Chandni Chowk 286, and DTU 249. Dwarka Sector 8 reported 187, while IGI Airport (T3) remained under monitoring, with ITO recording 180. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium registered 187, Mundka 309, Narela 283, and Okhla Phase-2 242. Pusa recorded 152, R.K. Puram 221, Rohini 306, Shadipur 296, Sonia Vihar 294, Vivek Vihar 284, and Wazirpur 336, indicating elevated pollution levels in many areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted very light to light rainfall for Wednesday, accompanied by gusty winds with speeds ranging between 30 and 40 kilometers per hour during the afternoon. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 27 degrees Celsius and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Delhi has been experiencing unusually warm weather for mid-February. On Monday (February 16), the highest temperature of the season was recorded, and on Tuesday (February 17), the mercury rose further to 30.9 degrees Celsius. This was approximately 6.5 degrees Celsius above the normal average for this time of year, making it one of the warmest February days in recent weeks.
According to the IMD, a yellow alert has been issued for Delhi, and cloudy skies are predicted for the day. The weather agency has indicated the possibility of very light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated locations during the morning hours. Another spell of very light to light rain, also accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, is likely at isolated locations in the morning, along with gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph. A further spell of very light rain is expected at isolated locations during the afternoon.
The IMD also stated that light rainfall was very likely over parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan over the next two hours. Areas expected to receive rain include Sonipat, Kharkhoda, Charkhi Dadri, Mattanhail, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, Kosali, Mahendargarh, Sohna, Rewari, Palwal, Narnaul, Bawal, Nuh, Aurangabad, and Hodal in Haryana; Bagpat, Khekra, Modinagar, and Pilakhua in Uttar Pradesh; and Bhiwari, Tizara, Khairthal, Alwar, Viratnagar, Nagar, Laxmangarh, and Rajgarh in Rajasthan.
Furthermore, the IMD indicated that very light rainfall or drizzle was likely in Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Narwana, Karnal, Fatehabad, Assandh, Safidon, Barwala, Jind, Panipat, Adampur, Gohana, Gannaur, Hansi, Tosham, and Rohtak in Haryana; Shamli, Kandhla, Khatauli, Sakoti Tanda, Hastinapur, Baraut, Daurala, Meerut, Kithor, Garhmukteshwar, Hapur, Gulaoti, Siyana, Sikandrabad, Bulandshahar, Khurja, Jattari, Nandgaon, and Barsana in Uttar Pradesh; and Kotputli and Deeg in Rajasthan.