Surprise Rain Hits Delhi-NCR Amid Chilling Cold Wave Conditions; Temperature To Dip Further

New Delhi: Amid cold wave conditions, residents in Delhi-NCR woke up to unexpected rain early on Friday (January 9, 2025) as the region, reeling under a spell of dense fog and biting cold, saw light intermittent rainfall.

The surprise rain hitting Delhi and the NCR, catching residents off guard as the weather department had not forecasted any precipitation. This sudden downpour adds a new layer of misery to a region already struggling with a combination of freezing temperatures and thick fog.

Light rainfall forecast

As per India Meteorological Department (IMD), light rainfall/drizzle is likely to occur at isolated places in Delhi (Mundka, Pashchim Vihar, Rajouri Garden, Buddha Jayanti Park, President House, Rajiv Chowk, Jaffarpur, Najafgarh, Dwarka, Delhi Cantt, Palam, IGI Airport), NCR ( Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Noida) during next 2 hours.

The IMD has issued a short-term "nowcast" warning for Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), forecasting light to moderate showers over the next two hours. This rain is expected to spread beyond the capital into adjacent areas of Haryana and Rajasthan, likely triggering a further drop in already freezing temperatures.

In its early morning briefing at 6:30 am, the Regional Meteorological Centre in Delhi identified specific neighborhoods expected to receive light rainfall. The forecast pinpointed several key central, eastern, and southern localities including ITO, India Gate, and Akshardham, Preet Vihar, among others.

'Heavy rainfall warnings in southern states'

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a weather alert earlier as several parts of India are being affected by extreme weather conditions. A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has triggered heavy rainfall warnings for several southern states from today.

IMD further warned very dense fog is likely to be expected in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Cold Wave Conditions are expected in parts of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. Isolated areas of Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh may witness frost, posing a risk to the crops.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal are expected to receive the heaviest rainfall, with peak intensity predicted between January 9 and 10. Isolated heavy rain is likely to remain through the weekend in Kerala and Mahe.

Delhi's air quality remains 'poor'

Thick blanket of smog continues to envelop the city on Thursday as well where air quality remained in the 'poor' category across several parts of Delhi, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

According to CPCB readings, Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 277, placing it in the 'poor' category. 

However, according to CPCB data, several areas in the city witnessed a decline in air quality. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 324, slipping into the 'very poor' category. Other areas, including Chandini Chowk (320), Jahangirpuri (327), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (306), and Nehru Nagar (343), also recorded a drop in air quality. 

Maximum temperatures in areas such as Palam and Lodi Road have been recorded within a narrow range of 13°C to 16°C. It marks the onset of a winter spell as it is the first day of such conditions.

IMD forecast

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that these cold-day conditions are likely to persist through tomorrow, indicating no immediate relief for residents. 

According to IMD, a 'cold day' is defined as a day when the maximum temperature is between 4.5 and 6.4 degrees below the seasonal norm. If temperatures fall 6.5 degrees below the seasonal norm, it is classified as a severe cold day.

Dense fog, cold day conditions continue in Punjab, Haryana

Maximum temperatures across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh remained significantly below normal yesterdy, while dense fog and cold day conditions prevailed in several districts, as per the latest report issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meteorological Centre, Chandigarh.

According to IMD's district-wise weather warnings, dense to very dense fog conditions were observed at isolated places across Punjab and Haryana on January 8, with cold wave/cold day conditions affecting parts of both states. Similar conditions are likely to persist over the next few days, with varying warning levels ranging from Be Updated to Be Prepared in several districts.

IMD Chandigarh has advised residents to remain cautious during morning and night hours due to reduced visibility and prevailing cold conditions.

Snowfall in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu

As the cold wave tightens its grip across North India, fresh snowfall in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu delighted tourists, who had flocked to the picturesque place earlier this week.

Tourists enjoy the season's fresh snowfall at Rohtang Pass as snow blankets the mountains, transforming the region into a winter spectacle and offering breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks.