New Delhi: Intense rain and gusty winds of up to 67 kmph helped Delhi record its cleanest air day since Sept 5 last year. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 73 in the ‘satisfactory’ category Friday — the lowest since Sept 5, when it was 67. The same AQI level of 73 was recorded on Oct 7 and Sept 6 last year.Delhi-NCR witnessed brief but intense spells of rain, accompanied by strong winds of up to 67 kmph, Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday.India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast light rain and gusty winds Friday night. A yellow alert has been issued for Saturday, while rainfall activity is likely to decrease from Sunday. Temperatures may again touch 40 degrees Celsius by Monday.Safdarjung, the city’s base station, recorded 11.2 mm of rainfall between Thursday evening and 8.30 am Friday, with no rainfall logged between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. The highest wind speed of 67 kmph was recorded at Pusa, followed by 65 kmph at Palam around midnight, while Safdarjung recorded 37 kmph.The maximum temperature Friday was 34.6 degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal, compared with 38.7 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The heat index, or “feels-like” temperature, touched 39.9 degrees Celsius at 2.30 pm. “Rain and overcast skies under the influence of a western disturbance led to the dip in temperature. Very light to light rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds of up to 60 kmph, is likely on Saturday,” an IMD official said.IMD has forecast the possibility of thunderstorms Sunday afternoon or evening, with overcast skies expected Monday. Daytime temperatures are likely to remain between 38 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius Monday and may rise to 39 degrees Celsius-41 degrees Celsius Tuesday.The minimum temperature dipped to 22.8 degrees Celsius Friday, five degrees below normal, compared with 30 degrees Celsius Thursday. It is expected to remain between 22 degrees Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours.
