Delhi-NCR May See Isolated Rain and Thunderstorms as Air Quality Stays Moderate

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not issued a warning for heavy rainfall in Delhi, suggesting that the capital is likely to see brief spells of rain and lightning rather than prolonged or intense showers.

The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, while Delhi, Patna and Lucknow are expected to receive scattered showers. Odisha is also being closely monitored as the southwest monsoon continues to withdraw from central parts of the country.

Several regions across north, east and south India are likely to experience some rainfall, with the strongest spells expected over Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Delhi, Patna and Lucknow are likely to see lighter and more intermittent showers.

The weather developments come as the southwest monsoon continues to retreat from parts of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, marking a gradual transition towards the post-monsoon season even as some areas continue to receive significant rainfall.

Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the moderate category on Thursday, although several monitoring stations reported relatively high AQI readings. These included Burari at 150, Badarpur at 109, Punjabi Bagh at 183, Pusa at 162, IGI Airport T3 at 170, Chandni Chowk at 166, R.K. Puram at 227, IIT Delhi at 240, Dwarka Sector 8 at 269, Mundka at 255, Rohini at 195, Sonia Vihar at 157, Bawana at 195 and Narela at 212.

The capital has recorded its most polluted first seven days of October in three years, with the average AQI reaching 171 this year as air quality worsened following the monsoon's withdrawal.

According to an analysis of official data by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the seven-day average AQI of 171 is the highest for the period since 2023, when the average stood at 176.

Delhi's AQI was recorded at 166 on October 1, 174 on October 2, 171 on October 3, 187 on October 4, 184 on October 5, 179 on October 6 and 136 on October 7.

Over the past six years, the average AQI for the first seven days of October was 112 in 2021, 141 in 2022, 176 in 2023, 155 in 2024, 117 in 2025 and 171 in 2026. This makes the first week of October this year the second-most polluted in the six-year period, behind 2023.