Delhi Weather Today: National capital wakes up to light rain; IMD issues yellow alert for thunderstorms across NCR

Delhi Weather Today: The national capital woke up to light rain on Thursday morning, bringing relief from the heat after the city recently recorded its hottest February day in 19 years. The minimum temperature was recorded at 19.5 degrees Celsius, 4.1 degrees above the seasonal average.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunderstorms with rain through the day, with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 26 degrees Celsius. A yellow alert has been issued, warning of thunderstorms across Delhi and the NCR, including Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Greater Noida.

This shift in weather comes after last week’s drizzle, which briefly brought down temperatures.

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Also Read: Delhi Weather Update: National Capital records minimum temperature of 10°C

Delhi AQI takes a hit after days of relief

After a few days of relatively better air, Delhi’s pollution levels are creeping up again. As of Tuesday morning, the AQI at Anand Vihar stood at 274 (‘poor’), ITO was at 290, Ashok Nagar hit 292, and RK Puram was at 248, as per the Central Pollution Control Board's data. The dip in air quality is mainly due to slow winds that aren’t helping clear out the pollutants.

According to IMD, the AQI will likely stay in the 'moderate’ category from February 28 to March 1. Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has eased Stage II restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), leaving only Stage I measures in place. Authorities are keeping a close watch and advising us to take necessary precautions.

An AQI of 0-50 is classified as good, 51-100 as satisfactory, 101-200 as moderate, 201-300 as poor, 301-400 as very poor, and 401-500 as severe.

IMD forecasts rain, snowfall, and strong winds across states

The IMD has also forecast rain, snowfall, and strong winds in several states. Over the next 24 hours, heavy rain and snowfall are expected in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Punjab and Haryana may see winds reaching 30-40 kmph on February 27 and 28. Meanwhile, thunderstorms are likely in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry from February 27 to March 2.