Delhi sees cleanest air in 8 months; on rain alert until Sunday

Jun 19, 2025 05:54 AM IST The metropolis’s common AQI fell to 81, marking its greatest degree since September 29 final 12 months, when it had reached 76—each within the “satisfactory” vary. Residents of Delhi woke as much as a uncommon double delight on Wednesday: a sky softened by rain-laden clouds and the cleanest air town has breathed in additional than eight months. The downpour and funky winds continued for the second day, bringing respite from the searing warmth and giving residents a break from Delhi’s common polluted skies. Clouds seen hovering over the skies close to Rajghat in New Delhi on Wednesday (Sanchit Khanna/Hindustan Times) The metropolis’s common air high quality index (AQI) dropped to 81, squarely within the “satisfactory” class—its greatest studying since September 29 final 12 months, when the AQI touched 76. This marks simply the third “satisfactory” air day of 2025. The final two occurred in March. A “good” air day, with an AQI beneath 51, stays elusive—the final was recorded almost two years in the past, on September 10, 2023. The enchancment got here on the again of continued rain and gusty winds. In the 24 hours main as much as 8.30am Wednesday, Delhi recorded 29mm of rain, pushing the June rainfall whole to 87.8mm—already 18% above the long-term common of 74.1mm for the month. More rain is forecast within the coming days because the southwest monsoon creeps nearer to the Capital. Although Wednesday noticed no rain in the course of the day, overcast skies and a persistent breeze held temperatures in verify. The most temperature dipped to 34.2°C—5 levels beneath regular—whereas the minimal settled at 24.2°C, three levels beneath common. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, forecasting gentle to reasonable rain accompanied by thunderstorms and winds gusting as much as 60 km/hr. “The monsoon is steadily advancing across northwest India and may reach Delhi sometime next week,” an IMD official mentioned. On Wednesday, IMD mentioned the monsoon had progressed additional into Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and elements of Bihar. Conditions stay beneficial for additional advance over remaining areas of Rajasthan, Bihar, elements of Uttar Pradesh, and finally into Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi within the subsequent few days. Delhi normally sees the monsoon arrive by June 27, however early rainfall in May and June this 12 months has set the stage for an early onset. May 2025 was Delhi’s wettest on file, with 186.4mm of rainfall—greater than six instances the traditional common of 30.7mm. Last 12 months, the monsoon reached Delhi on June 25, and town went on to log 243.4mm of rainfall that month—over thrice the June common. With rains more likely to proceed, Delhi could keep away from heatwave situations totally within the coming week. “There is enough moisture in the air to sustain overcast skies and periodic showers. The possibility of a heatwave is minimal,” the IMD official added. Meanwhile, information from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) exhibits the Capital has logged 80 “moderate” air days this 12 months, 68 “poor,” and 18 “very poor” days. While the variety of “severe” days has declined in comparison with 2024, specialists attribute the development largely to beneficial climate reasonably than structural air pollution management measures.