**Surprise Rainfall Hits Delhi-NCR Amid Cold Wave Conditions**
Parts of Delhi and neighboring cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced unexpected rainfall early Friday, coinciding with a cold wave. This sudden downpour was not forecasted by the weather department, which had previously indicated that the region would be under dense fog and severe cold.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now predicted light to moderate rainfall across Delhi and parts of Haryana and Rajasthan in the coming hours, with temperatures expected to drop further. This rainfall is anticipated to improve the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and surrounding NCR cities, which have been fluctuating between poor and very poor levels.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Delhi, light rain is expected in several areas, including Preet Vihar, ITO, India Gate, Akshardham, Safdarjung, Lodhi Road, RK Puram, and Defence Colony. Isolated light rain or drizzle may also occur in Mundka, Paschim Vihar, Rajouri Garden, Rajiv Chowk, Dwarka, Delhi Cantt, and IGI Airport. Rain is also forecasted for Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Manesar, Ballabhgarh, Sohna, Palwal, and Tizara. Other NCR areas such as Bahadurgarh, Karnal, Panipat, Gohana, Rohtak, Rewari, Nandgaon, Khairthal, and Kotputli may also see rainfall within the next two hours.
**Delhi Experiences Severe Cold**
On Thursday, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 5.8 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest of the season. Residents felt a significant chill throughout the day, with maximum temperatures remaining below normal across all monitoring stations. Palam was noted as the coldest area, with a minimum of 4.8 degrees Celsius, while Ridge and Ayanagar recorded 5.8 degrees Celsius. The Safdarjung observatory, which serves as the base weather station for Delhi, reported a low of 5.8 degrees, which is 1.1 degrees below the seasonal average. The maximum temperature in Delhi reached only 17.5 degrees Celsius, approximately 1.5 degrees below the seasonal average, with Palam recording the lowest maximum at 14.5 degrees Celsius, nearly 4.2 degrees below normal.
The severe cold is expected to persist throughout the week, although the IMD has forecasted a slight increase in maximum temperatures starting Friday. Clear skies with shallow to moderate fog are anticipated in Delhi until January 14. The IMD has also warned that cold wave conditions will continue during this period.
In response to the biting cold, all schools in Delhi and Haryana have been closed until January 15, while schools in Noida and Ghaziabad will remain shut until January 10.
**FAQ**
**Q: What is the expected impact of the rainfall on air quality in Delhi?**
A: The rainfall is expected to improve the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and surrounding NCR cities, which have been experiencing poor air quality levels.
