Delhi rains bring big relief after hottest September in two years: IMD shares update

Heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi-NCR on Tuesday morning, bringing much-needed relief from the hot and humid conditions that had persisted over the past few days. The downpour came as a welcome change after the capital recorded its highest September temperatures in two years.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Monday’s maximum temperature had reached 37.5°C, just a day after touching 38.1°C on Sunday. For comparison, Delhi’s hottest September day in recent memory was 38.6°C, logged on 5 September 2023.

The IMD forecast suggests a generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle through the day. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 35°C, while the minimum settled at 28.7°C, which is 5.4 degrees above the season’s normal. Relative humidity was recorded at 74 per cent at 8.30 am.


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Air quality across the capital also remained a matter of concern. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) measured Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) at 114 at 8 am, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. For context, an AQI between 0–50 is considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’ and 401–500 ‘severe’.

With the monsoon showers returning, residents are hopeful for a cooler spell ahead after a harsh late-September heatwave. However, the humidity and fluctuating air quality remain challenges for the days to come.

Inputs from agencies