Delhi Sees Coldest October Day in 75 Years, Air Quality Improves After Heavy Rain

Delhi recorded its coldest October day in 75 years on Friday, with the maximum temperature plunging to 20.7 degrees Celsius amid persistent rainfall that also brought temporary relief from air pollution.

The maximum temperature at Safdarjung, the city's base weather station, was 10.3 degrees below normal, marking the lowest October maximum recorded there since 1951, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Other weather stations also reported unusually low temperatures. Palam recorded a maximum of 20.5 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road registered 20.6 degrees Celsius. The Ridge and Ayanagar recorded maximum temperatures of 20.8 degrees Celsius and 20.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Delhi received 61.4 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Friday, making it the wettest October day in four years and the sixth-wettest since 1951. The city's cumulative October rainfall at Safdarjung reached 123.3 mm, significantly exceeding the monthly normal of 15.1 mm.

The rain also improved air quality, with Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 60, its cleanest October day since October 10, 2022. The average AQI for October stood at 167, the lowest monthly average since 2015, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

However, the improvement is likely to be temporary. The Air Quality Early Warning System forecast that Delhi's air quality could deteriorate to the poor category on November 1 and remain poor or very poor over the following six days.

Unfavourable weather conditions and low wind speeds are expected to hamper pollutant dispersion. The transport sector contributed 17.8 per cent of Delhi's pollution load on Friday, while industrial emissions accounted for 3.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, 44 farm-fire incidents were reported in Punjab and Rajasthan on Friday.

The IMD forecast a maximum temperature of around 24 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 16 degrees Celsius for Saturday, with partly cloudy skies.