NEW DELHI — Parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) received light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms early Friday morning, providing brief relief from the intense winter pollution. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for the city, valid through the forenoon, as an active Western Disturbance moves over Northwest India.
1. Weather Forecast: Unstable Skies and Gusty Winds
The IMD has warned of “unstable” weather conditions throughout the day. Residents should expect multiple spells of rain accompanied by significant wind activity.
- Orange Alert (Until 10 AM): High chance of moderate rain, lightning, and thunderstorms. Wind speeds may reach 40–60 kmph.
- Yellow Alert (Rest of Day): The alert level will transition to Yellow later today, with intermittent light rain and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) expected in the afternoon and evening.
- Temperature: Maximum temperatures are expected to hover between 19°C and 21°C, while the minimum is likely to stay around 12°C to 14°C.
2. Air Quality Update: A Marginal Improvement
The rain has helped “wash out” some of the accumulated surface pollutants.
- Current AQI: As of 7:05 AM, the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 297 (“Poor”), a slight improvement from Thursday’s “Very Poor” readings.
- Pollutant Levels: While the rain is beneficial, PM2.5 remains the primary concern. Authorities have recently revoked GRAP Stage-III restrictions but have kept Stage-I and Stage-II in place to prevent a quick rebound in pollution levels.
3. Traffic Advisory: Republic Day Rehearsals
Commuters should prepare for a “double whammy” of weather-related delays and security restrictions.
- Full Dress Rehearsal: Today marks the Republic Day Full Dress Rehearsal. Major routes including Kartavya Path, Tilak Marg, and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg are closed or heavily restricted from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Alternate Routes: Traffic police suggest using the North-South Corridor (Ring Road – Ashram – Sarai Kale Khan) or the East-West Corridor (Bhairon Road – Mathura Road) to avoid the parade route.
- Safety Warning: Use fog lights during morning hours as shallow to moderate fog may reduce visibility alongside the rain.
Delhi Weather & Traffic Outlook (Jan 23, 2026)
| Time Slot | Weather Condition | Wind Speed | Alert Level |
| Morning | Moderate Rain / Thunderstorms | 40–60 kmph | Orange |
| Forenoon | Light Rain / Lightning | 30–40 kmph | Yellow |
| Afternoon | Intermittent Drizzles | 20–30 kmph | Yellow |
| Night | Generally Cloudy / Mist | <15 kmph | None |