Delhi recorded the highest rainfall in December in the last 15 years. This led to a significant drop in the maximum temperature yesterday and it fell by about 10 degrees to 14.6 degrees Celsius.
This was the coldest day in the last five years. The city has been receiving intermittent rains since yesterday.
The good news is that the air quality has improved significantly due to the rains, leading to the lifting of GRAP-3 restrictions. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI has now come in the ‘moderate’ category, which is a significant improvement from the ‘very poor’ levels of the previous days.
According to CPCB data, the city’s average AQI at 8 am today was 164, up from over 300 yesterday.
Delhi Records Wettest December in 15 Years
The national capital recorded the heaviest rainfall in December in 15 years, leading to a sharp drop in the maximum temperature to 14.6 degrees Celsius.
On December 27, rains began at 2:30 am and continued throughout the day, causing the maximum temperature to drop to 9.5 degrees Celsius and making it the coldest December day in the last five years.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature in Delhi in December in the last five years was as follows:
- 15.9°C (2023)
- 15.6°C (2022)
- 17.8°C (2021)
- 15.2°C (2020)
- 14.3°C (2019)
Cold and Fog Set to Intensify from Tomorrow
According to the Meteorological Department, the sky is likely to be cloudy with intermittent rain on Saturday. Light rain is expected in the morning and afternoon, followed by cloudy skies throughout the day. Surface winds will blow mainly from the southeast at a speed of less than 4 km/h in the morning.
The weather department has predicted that most areas may experience mist or light fog, while moderate fog may occur in some places in the morning. After the rains subside, the minimum temperature is expected to fall significantly from December 29, which will increase the cold and dense fog may cover the entire area.
These Restrictions Lifted Under GRAP Stage-III
Under the provisions of GRAP-III, the operation of goods vehicles with engines less than BS-IV certification is prohibited, except for vehicles used for essential services.
Additionally, goods vehicles registered outside the national capital are not allowed to enter the city until further notice if their engines do not meet BS-IV certification standards. Government offices in Delhi and NCR cities also function on staggered timings.
Also Read: Forex: Decline in Foreign Exchange Reserves Continues, Drops by $8.48 Billion to $644.39 Billion
