Delhi recorded its coldest October night in four years as an intense spell of overnight rain brought temperatures plummeting across the capital. The sudden shift in weather conditions led to widespread waterlogging and significant traffic disruptions, particularly in areas like Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station and Jamia Millia Islamia.
Temperature Drop and Rainfall Figures
The Safdarjung weather station, considered Delhi's primary meteorological observatory, registered a maximum temperature of 25.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday, October 29, 2026. This figure is 5.6 degrees below the seasonal average and marks the lowest October daytime temperature since October 8, 2022, when it stood at 23.4 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature recorded on Thursday was 19.2 degrees Celsius.
Rainfall was substantial, with Safdarjung reporting 49.3 mm between 11:30 PM on Thursday and 2:30 AM on Friday, followed by an additional 5.4 mm in the subsequent three hours. Other parts of the city also saw significant precipitation, with Palam recording 21 mm and both Pusa and Narayana receiving 20 mm each during the initial period.
Impacts and Alerts Issued
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) responded by issuing an orange alert for all 11 districts of Delhi, effective until 9 AM on Friday, October 30. The alert warned of continued rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. Commuters faced considerable challenges, with advice to anticipate delays due to waterlogged roads across various parts of the city.
Wider Weather System and Air Quality Improvement
This dramatic change in Delhi's weather is attributed to a wider spell of rain and falling temperatures affecting northern India. The phenomenon occurred as cyclonic storm Arnab weakened after making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast. The system's influence extended north, bringing unseasonal heavy showers to the capital.
A notable positive outcome of the rainfall was a significant improvement in Delhi's air quality. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 133, categorised as 'moderate', at 4 AM on Friday. This was a welcome drop from readings above 200, which had placed the capital's air quality in the 'poor' category on Wednesday and Thursday.
Outlook for Delhi and Other Regions
Looking ahead, Delhi-NCR is expected to experience clearer weather over the upcoming weekend. Forecasts indicate partly cloudy skies for October 31, transitioning to mainly clear conditions on November 1 and 2. While daytime temperatures may see a rise as the skies clear, mornings and evenings are projected to remain cooler.
Meanwhile, heavy rain warnings persist for several eastern, central, and southern states. The IMD has forecast isolated extremely heavy rain over north Bihar on October 30, with parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha also likely to receive intense showers. Widespread heavy to very heavy rain is anticipated in Jharkhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Rainfall is also expected to increase across southern India in early November, particularly for coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.