The national capital began Saturday with warm and humid conditions, recording a minimum temperature of 27.9°C, as per data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather office has predicted a generally cloudy sky over the weekend, with light to moderate showers likely through Sunday. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 36°C.
Humidity levels remained high, with the relative humidity touching 80% at 8:30 am, intensifying the muggy conditions despite intermittent rainfall across the city on Friday.
While the showers brought some relief from the sultry weather, they also led to minor waterlogging and traffic congestion in parts of the capital. The IMD has maintained a yellow alert for both Saturday and Sunday, cautioning residents about the possibility of continued rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.
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According to IMD classifications, rainfall between 15.6 mm and 64.4 mm is considered moderate, while anything under 15.5 mm qualifies as light rainfall.
Rain data from various stations on Friday showed varying patterns. Although Safdarjung, the city’s base weather observatory, reported no rainfall, other regions received measurable amounts. Pusa logged 34.5 mm of rain between 11:30 am and 5:30 pm. Janakpuri received 15 mm in the early afternoon followed by a negligible 0.5 mm later. The Ridge area recorded 4.4 mm throughout the day, while Palam saw 5.2 mm of rainfall.
An IMD official confirmed that the yellow alert, initially issued for Friday, has now been extended through the weekend. “Skies will remain overcast, and rainfall activity is expected to intensify slightly, especially with the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning,” the official added.
So far in July, Safdarjung has only received 4.1 mm of rain, falling significantly short of the month’s average of 17.4 mm at this point. The long-period average for the entire month stands at 209.7 mm, suggesting a slow start to the monsoon season.
Weather analyst Ashwary Tiwari, who runs the IndiaMetSky handle on social media platform X, said that while rainfall has begun in a scattered manner across the National Capital Region (NCR), more consistent precipitation is expected from July 6 to 8. “The monsoon axis will remain close to Delhi during this period, likely increasing rainfall activity,” he said.
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Air Quality Continues to Stay in the ‘Satisfactory’ Bracket
Meanwhile, air quality in Delhi remained in the “satisfactory” category for the ninth consecutive day. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 82 at 10 am on Saturday. A day earlier, the 24-hour average AQI stood at 78 at 4 pm.
The CPCB classifies an AQI between 51 and 100 as “satisfactory,” while 0–50 is considered “good.” The forecast from the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) suggests that the current air quality trend is likely to continue for the next few days.
