Delhi Rains Cool City, Boost Air Quality; North India Forecast

New Delhi awoke to a cool morning on April 1, 2026, with the minimum temperature at 16.8 degrees Celsius, two degrees below the seasonal average, following overnight rains that brought scattered showers to parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department reported 6.4 millimeters of rain at Lodhi Road, 2.6 millimeters at Ridge, and 6.8 millimeters at Ayanagar between 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. These rains improved air quality, pushing the Air Quality Index to 103 in the moderate category, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.

While no rain is expected today, Delhi may see overcast skies, with the maximum temperature reaching around 35 degrees Celsius. Light rain and thunderstorms could return by Friday, as a fresh wet spell from active Western Disturbances affects northwest India this week, peaking on April 3 and 4. The department forecasts scattered to widespread light to moderate rainfall, along with isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds up to 60 kilometers per hour in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand through April 6. Northern hills, including higher altitudes in Jammu...