Delhi is likely to see partly cloudy skies on Friday, with the maximum temperature forecast at 34 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 23 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The forecast follows a warmer-than-normal Thursday at the Safdarjung weather station.
Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius on Thursday, which was 1.5 degrees above the normal level for the day. No rainfall was recorded across the capital between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, according to the report. The city is expected to experience similar conditions on Friday, with clouds but no rain forecast in the supplied weather update.
Air quality remained within the Central Pollution Control Board’s listed moderate range on Thursday, with Delhi recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 162. The report described the air quality as satisfactory, while the CPCB classification included in the report places AQI readings between 101 and 200 in the moderate category. The AQI was expected to remain in the same broad range on October 9 and 10.
The Air Quality Early Warning System reported a ventilation index below 6,000 square metres per second and an average wind speed of 10 kilometres per hour. These conditions were described in the report as unfavourable for the dispersion of pollutants, although the forecast air-quality category was expected to remain unchanged.
Temperature conditions varied across Delhi’s monitoring stations on Thursday. Palam recorded a maximum of 33 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees below normal, while Lodhi Road recorded 35 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. The Ridge recorded a maximum of 33.2 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees below normal.
Night-time temperatures also remained higher than normal at several stations. Safdarjung recorded a minimum of 24.1 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees above normal, and Lodhi Road recorded 23.4 degrees Celsius, 3.4 degrees above normal. The Ridge recorded 20 degrees Celsius, which was 2.1 degrees above normal, while Palam’s minimum temperature of 21.5 degrees Celsius was reported as normal.
The IMD forecast for Friday is for a minimum temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, a maximum of 34 degrees Celsius and partly cloudy skies across the capital.
