Air Quality Improves to Best in Three Years in Delhi After Heavy Rains

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued rain warnings for several regions, including Delhi-NCR. According to IMD forecasts, cloudiness and a chance of short-term showers with thunderstorms and strong wind gusts of 30-40 km/h are expected in Delhi-NCR on Sunday until noon.

Weather forecast for Delhi

In Delhi, the maximum temperature is expected to be between 32°C and 34°C, and the minimum between 27°C and 29°C. Most areas will show minimum temperatures within the normal range, while the maximum temperature is likely to be below normal. It is also forecasted that light rains may occur in several areas of Delhi on Monday.

Rain in other regions

Furthermore, the meteorological service warns of the possibility of heavy rainfall in parts of Gujarat, central Maharashtra, the Saurashtra region, and Odisha.

Red alert in Mumbai

IMD has declared a red alert for Mumbai, warning of heavy rainfall in many areas. The situation with flooded streets is causing significant inconvenience to residents. It should be noted that heavy rains disrupted life in many states last Saturday, including Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha, and Kerala, where a red alert was also declared.

Impact of rains in Maharashtra

According to the news agency PTI, following the late arrival of monsoons in Maharashtra, Mumbai and its metropolitan area faced continuous heavy rains. These downpours led to road collapses, fallen trees, and building damage, resulting in disruptions to road and rail traffic. Due to the constant rain, the BMC was forced to declare a holiday for schools and colleges during the day. As a result of the flooding in low-lying areas of the city, public transport stopped, and private car drivers faced problems. Additionally, water accumulated on the tracks of the Western Railway, affecting train operations. Flooding was also observed in various places in Gujarat after the rains.

Following the summer heat, the weather in Delhi and NCR has begun to change. Thanks to the arrival of the monsoon season on July 2, residents of the capital have found relief from the humid heat.

Weather Forecast for July 3

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts a probability of rain in Delhi on Friday, July 3. According to the meteorological service data, drizzle or light rain accompanied by strong winds is possible in several areas of Delhi in the afternoon.

On Friday morning, the capital experienced cloudy skies and pleasant weather. The minimum temperature was recorded at 28.1 degrees Celsius. IMD issued a yellow warning, taking into account the possibility of light rain.

Temperature Readings and Wind

According to the latest updates from IMD, clouds will remain in the sky over Delhi. Light precipitation or showers are expected in some places after noon and in the evening. There is also a possibility of strong gusts of wind with thunderstorms. For July 3, the maximum temperature in Delhi is expected to be 35 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature 28 degrees Celsius.

Various temperature readings were noted in different areas: at Palm Airport in the morning, it was recorded at 25.9 degrees Celsius, which is 1.9 degrees below normal. In Lodhi Road, the temperature was 28.0 degrees Celsius (1.0 degree above normal), while in the Ridge area it was 24.6 degrees Celsius (0.9 degrees below normal), and in Ayangar, it was 25.8 degrees Celsius (1.0 degree below normal).

Monsoon and Air Quality

According to the meteorological service forecasts, strong surface winds of up to 40-50 kilometers per hour will blow in Delhi, along with light rain or drizzle. This year, the monsoon arrived five days later than usual. The rain on July 2 helped lower the temperature in the national capital, with about 4-5 millimeters of precipitation registered at the Safdarjung station.

Regarding air quality, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that on July 3 at 9 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was 89, which falls under the 'satisfactory' category. According to the classification, an AQI from 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 is satisfactory, 101 to 200 is moderate, 201 to 300 is poor, 301 to 400 is very poor, and 401 to 500 is hazardous.

Residents of Delhi-NCR and North India are soon to find relief from the intense heat and humidity. The Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that the southwest monsoon may reach Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and other parts of Uttar Pradesh within the next two to three days. According to IMD data, current conditions favor the advance of the monsoon.

Weather Situation in Delhi-NCR

In recent days, Delhi-NCR has experienced severe heat, humidity, and hot nights, causing concern among the population. The maximum temperature in the capital reached 42–43 degrees Celsius, while the minimum stayed within 29–31 degrees Celsius, which was about 5 degrees above normal. Despite brief and sporadic rainfall, air humidity continued to rise, preventing people from escaping the muggy heat.

Rainfall and Temperature Forecast

According to the meteorological service, light or moderate rains are possible in Delhi-NCR on June 30 and July 1. Following this, from July 2 to 6, an increase in rainfall activity is expected, indicating the full activation of the monsoon. IMD also warned of the possibility of heavy rains, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds in some areas between July 1 and 3.

A significant drop in temperature is expected after the onset of rains. If the maximum temperature was 42–43 degrees in recent days, it may fall to 38–40 degrees on June 30, 36–38 degrees on July 1, and 32–34 degrees by July 2–3. IMD stated that temperatures in the first half of July could drop below normal, bringing great relief from the prolonged heat and humidity.

Monsoon Arrival in the Region

Residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad hope for cooler weather, improved air quality, and relief from the scorching heat with the arrival of the monsoon. Typically, the southwest monsoon reaches Delhi by June 27, but delays have been observed in recent years. In 2025, the monsoon arrived in Delhi on June 29, whereas in 2024 it was on June 28, and in 2022 it was on June 30. The longest delay was recorded in 2021, when the monsoon reached the capital on July 13.

Monsoon in Uttar Pradesh

According to the meteorological service, by June 30, the monsoon had already reached parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, most of Uttarakhand, as well as some areas of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. It is now expected to soon activate in Delhi-NCR and the rest of Northwest India. Heavy rains have fallen in the eastern and hilly regions of Uttar Pradesh over the last two days, providing great relief to those suffering from intense heat and humidity. Due to the rains, temperatures in several districts of Uttar Pradesh have dropped by approximately 5–7 degrees Celsius.