A spell of overnight rain early Monday not only led to a significant drop in the temperature but also helped Delhi breathe slightly easier with the city’s air quality showing improvement. A rainfall of 10-13 mm was reported in the Capital, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The minimum temperature, recorded on Monday morning, was 20.4 degrees Celsius, nearly four degrees lower than that recorded on Sunday morning. The maximum temperature also saw a significant dip, as it settled at 26.5 degrees Celsius —7.7 degrees Celsius below the season's normal. The last time October recorded a lower night temperature was on October 17, 2023, when the temperature settled at 26.2 degrees Celsius. A similar pattern of rain causing the maximum temperature to significantly drop was observed in the second week of October 2022, when rainfall up to 74 mm was recorded in a single day. The day and night temperatures had then hovered around 19-24 degrees Celsius, IMD data shows. The IMD, in its bulletin on Monday, said, “Under the influence of western disturbance, maximum rainfall activity is expected. up to forenoon of tomorrow, October 7, thereafter the weather activity will significantly reduce. Partly cloudy sky becoming mainly clear sky thereafter over Delhi.” Meanwhile, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the city’s average AQI has dropped to 105, in the 'Moderate' category, from Sunday's 159. As of Monday morning, Anand Vihar remained the most polluted station at 205 AQI (Poor), while Lodhi Road station reported the cleanest air at 78 (Satisfactory). Although the average PM 2.5 levels at the station - 63 micrograms per cubic metre — was just above the permissible limit of 60, average PM 10 levels stayed within the 100 microgram limit at 78. The improvement in air quality followed light to moderate rainfall late Sunday night. Safdarjung received 10.3 mm of rain and Pitampura 13.5 mm overnight. The weather agency’s data showed that apart from Safdarjung and Pitampura, rainfall was also recorded at Mayur Vihar (11 mm), Pusa (8.5 mm), Palam (3.6 mm), and Janakpuri (4.5 mm). According to the IMD’s daily bulletin, the city experienced gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, reaching up to 50 kmph in some areas. Post-monsoon rainfall, coupled with sustained wind speeds, is expected to keep Delhi’s air cleaner for longer than usual this season. CPCB data shows that air quality has remained in the Moderate or Satisfactory category for most of October so far, a trend not often seen after monsoon withdrawal.
