Expect cloudy sky, light rain today

NEW DELHI: Light rain on Thursday afternoon was witnessed in many parts of the city even as the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 20 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal, and 9.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, respectively. Till 5.30pm, 3mm rainfall was recorded. Rain is expected on Friday as well.
“On Friday, there will be generally cloudy sky and rain or thunderstorm with isolated hail is expected. Friday’s maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 19 and 10 degree Celsius respectively,” an official said. Fog is also expected in some parts of the city on Friday.

“Dense to very dense fog at a few places is very likely over north Rajasthan and at isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi,” a Met weather bulletin on Thursday said.

In terms of air quality, the AQI on Thursday shifted to ‘very poor’ at 311. According to SAFAR, the overall air quality over Delhi is again back to very poor after a short spell of moderate conditions. “There is no appreciable change in surface wind speed but it’s likely to increase marginally to disperse pollutants very slowly due to disturbances. However, introduction of moisture may negate this advantage,” a SAFAR report said.

According to experts, AQI is expected to remain in the very poor range for the next three days, with slight increase in magnitude. “Moderate fog will prevail in next three days,” it said.

Data according to CPCB’s central control room, meanwhile, showed that NCR’s average PM2.5 and PM10 readings were more than three times the safe standard on Thursday. While the average PM2.5 readings at 7pm were recorded at 144.2 micrograms per cubic metre, the average PM10 readings at the same time were 246.6 micrograms per cubic metre.