Delhi recorded its coolest October day since 1951 on Friday, after intense overnight rain pulled the maximum temperature down to 20.7°C, according to India Meteorological Department data. The reading was around 10°C below the seasonal normal and followed a sharp fall from Thursday’s maximum of 25.4°C.
The city also recorded its wettest October in four years, with monthly rainfall reaching 127.7 mm against the normal October total of 15.1 mm. Safdarjung, Delhi’s base weather station, received 61.4 mm of rain in the 24 hours to 8.30am on Friday, making it the wettest October day in four years at the station.
Jharoda Kalan in south-west Delhi recorded 89 mm of rainfall during the same period. Between 8.30am and 5.30pm, Safdarjung received another 4.2 mm, while Lodhi Road recorded 4 mm.
The rainfall followed the interaction of a western disturbance with a depression that was the remnant of very severe cyclonic storm Arnab. The depression has since weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area, while the western disturbance’s influence has also reduced.
“October 2026 was also the fourth wettest October since 1951 and Friday saw the sixth highest 24-hour rainfall in October since 1951,” D R Pattanaik, an IMD scientist, was quoted as saying.
The 20.7°C maximum was the lowest October maximum recorded in Delhi since 1951. IMD data showed that the last higher October maximum close to this level was 21.5°C, recorded on October 25, 1975. The difference between Friday’s maximum and minimum temperatures was only 3.5°C. The minimum temperature was 17.2°C, around 1°C above normal.
Despite the sharp fall in the daytime temperature, Safdarjung did not meet the IMD’s criteria for declaring a cold day. The classification requires the minimum temperature to be below 10°C and the maximum temperature to be at least 4.5°C below the seasonal normal.
Krishna Mishra, another IMD scientist, said moderate to heavy rain occurred because of the interaction between the western disturbance and the depression. With both systems weakening, rain activity is unlikely from Saturday, Mishra said.
The change in weather is expected to be short-lived. The maximum temperature is forecast to remain between 23°C and 25°C on Saturday, rise to around 28°C to 30°C on Sunday, and reach nearly 29°C to 31°C by Monday. The minimum temperature is expected to remain between 15°C and 17°C over the next few days.
