Scattered rain likely over next few days in Delhi, AQI ‘satisfactory’: IMD

NEW DELHI: The capital experienced a gloomy day with overcast skies and intermittent very light rain throughout the city. Met officials said the presence of low clouds affected visibility during the day.
Scattered light rain is likely to continue until Thursday. However, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'yellow' alert for light to moderate rain for Friday and Saturday.
The low clouds prevented the temperature from rising significantly.The maximum temperature was 29.6 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal. The minimum temperature was 25.2 degrees Celsius, which is around normal. The gap between the day’s maximum and minimum temperatures was just 4.4 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature on Saturday was 34.4 degrees Celsius.
Met officials attributed the presence of low clouds in Delhi-NCR and parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plains to sufficient moisture from the nearby monsoon trough, coupled with low wind speeds. The city's lowest visibility was re corded at 900 metres around 10.30 am on Sunday. “Scattered very light rain was received across the city. Similar rain activity is expected for the next four days," said an IMD official. IMD said light rain is expected until Thursday, but no color-coded warning has been issued.
Safdarjung, the city’s base station, logged 1.8 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours till 8.30 am on Sunday. However, it received just 0.2 mm of rainfall from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. During the same period, Ayanagar recorded 3.3 mm, Palam 2 mm, and Pusa and Pitampura received 0.5 mm of rainfall each. Only ‘trace’ rainfall was recorded at Lodhi Road and Ridge between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm.
IMD data shows that Safdarjung has logged 73.9 mm of rainfall in Sept so far, which is nearly 60% of the month’s long-period average of 123.4 mm.
Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘satisfactory’ category, with an air quality index (AQI) of 91 on Sunday, up from 70 a day earlier. It is likely to stay in the same category until Sept 11, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.