Weather Today Live Updates: Rain lashes Delhi-NCR, visibility reduced due to fog

'Thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm, gusty winds (30-40 kmph) & lightning very likely at many places over East Rajasthan; at a few places over Punjab, East Madhya Pradesh; accompanied with hailstorm, gusty winds (40-50 kmph) & lightning at many places over Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi and West Madhya Pradesh; at isolated places over Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada; with hailstorm & lightning at isolated places over West Rajasthan, Gujarat Region and Vidarbha; with lightning at many places over Himachal Pradesh; at a few places over Uttarakhand; at isolated places over East Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal,' IMD posted on 'X'.

The 24-hour AQI on Thursday was 345, with the CPCB categorising AQI levels between 301-400 as 'very poor.'

The Met department predicts cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall throughout Friday due to a western disturbance.

Parts of Delhi received rainfall early Friday, with Safdarjung recording 1.8 mm by 5.30am and 7.3 mm by 8.30am.

Rain swept across various parts of the national capital on Friday morning, accompanied by a layer of fog covered the city, significantly reducing visibility.

The Central Government's air quality panel lifted Stage IV (‘Severe+’) measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on December 24. This decision was made after AQI levels showed improvement. However, measures under Stages I, II, and III will continue to be implemented to prevent a reversal in air quality gains.

Despite the refreshing weather, Delhi’s air quality continues to struggle. The Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category at 371 as of 7 am on Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Some locations reported even higher AQI levels, such as Anand Vihar (398) and ITO (380).

Local resident Deepak Pandey shared his thoughts, saying, “The weather feels like Kashmir. It is cold, but the rain has reduced pollution, making the air feel fresher.” Similarly, Raman Kushwaha, a tourist from Madhya Pradesh, noted that despite the cold, the weather is pleasant for sightseeing, with noticeably improved air quality.

The IMD has forecasted "thunderstorms with rain" for Delhi on Friday and Saturday. This suggests more showers are likely to drench the city over the weekend, adding to the already cool and foggy weather.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 12 degrees Celsius on Friday, while the maximum temperature is expected to reach 20 degrees Celsius, making it a chilly day for residents.

Rain lashed several parts of the national capital on Friday morning, accompanied by dense fog that significantly reduced visibility across the city. The refreshing weather brought a cool and pleasant change to the otherwise dry conditions.