Several areas in Delhi-NCR witnessed rainfall on Thursday morning, bringing slight relief from poor air quality and foggy conditions. The national capital recorded a minimum temperature of 11.2 degrees Celsius, attributed to cloud cover and moisture from a Western Cyclonic Disturbance, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Rainfall and Weather Conditions

Rainfall data from the IMD shows that Delhi's Safdarjung observatory recorded 3.7 mm of rain, while the Pusa and Palam observatories measured 7.5 mm and 9 mm, respectively, between midnight and Thursday morning. Neighboring cities such as Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad also experienced light to moderate rainfall.

The IMD predicts a generally cloudy sky with more light rain or drizzle throughout the day. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 17°C and 10°C, respectively, while the rain may further cool the city in the coming hours.

Improved Visibility and Flight Operations

The morning rain brought significant improvement in visibility across Delhi-NCR. A day after dense fog disrupted travel, visibility at Delhi Airport improved to 800 meters, ensuring smooth flight operations.

Train Delays Due to Rain

However, rainfall caused delays in rail services. According to Indian Railways, 29 trains either arriving in or departing from Delhi were running behind schedule.

Air Quality Update

Despite the rain, the air quality in Delhi-NCR remained in the 'very poor' category, though it showed slight improvement. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board indicated an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 350 at 6 am, compared to Wednesday’s AQI of 386.

Specific areas, however, continued to face severe pollution levels. For instance, Alipur recorded an AQI of 358, while Ashok Vihar's AQI stood at 407, marking it as 'severe.' The AQI scale categorizes readings between 301-400 as 'very poor' and 401-500 as 'severe.'

Western Disturbance Brings Relief

The rain, attributed to a Western Disturbance, brought temporary relief by increasing moisture and clearing out some pollutants, but officials warned that air quality may dip again once the rains subside.

Residents are advised to take precautions, particularly individuals with respiratory issues, as the air quality remains far from satisfactory despite the recent improvements.