Cloudy skies on Independence Day in Delhi, likely to rain

The national capital saw a slight dip in minimum temperature as Independence Day celebrations were held on Saturday amid a forecast for very light rain by the India Meteorological department (IMD).

Safdarjung, representative of the city’s weather, recorded a low of 26 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degree below the normal, and 1.8 degree lower than Friday.

Other weather stations recorded a similar decrease in the minimum temperature as well.

Palam recorded a minimum temperature of 24.4 degree Celsius, 1.8 degree below the normal and 1.7 degree lower than the day before; Lodhi Road recorded a minimum of 26.2 degree Celsius, 1.6 degree lower than a day before; Ayanagar recorded a minimum temperature of 26.2 degrees, two degrees lower than Friday.

A weather forecast by IMD, meanwhile, predicts cloudy skies and very light rain to persist throughout the day.

“Generally cloudy skies are expected to persist. A spell of very light rainfall of about 3mm with 60 per cent probability is expected during afternoon to evening,” said an IMD official.

According to IMD forecast, the maximum temperature is likely to be around 31-33 degrees Celsius.

The air quality index (AQI) of the city remained in the satisfactory category on Saturday morning and was recorded at 91 (satisfactory) at 9 am, as compared to the 24-hour average AQI of 98 (satisfactory) recorded at 4pm on Friday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

As per CPCB standards, an AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.