Delhi's AQI Plunges to 78 Following Widespread Rain: How Long Will It Last?

Widespread rain and strong winds significantly improved Delhi's air quality on Friday morning, October 30, 2026, dropping the Air Quality Index (AQI) from 363 to 78 within 24 hours according to AQI.in data.

According to reported details, the meteorological changes were linked to a western disturbance and weather systems associated with Cyclone Arnab. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that moderate rain with thunderstorms occurred across most places in Delhi, accompanied by heavy rain at isolated locations.

Rainfall and Temperature Details

• Safdarjung: Recorded 61.4 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Friday; maximum temperature dropped to 25.4°C on Thursday (6.4°C below the previous day).
• Lodhi Road: Recorded 63.4 mm of rain.
• Palam: Recorded 43.1 mm of rain.
• Temperatures: Minimum temperature stood at 17.2°C, and maximum temperatures fell by 4-6°C across the capital.

Forecast and Clean Air Duration

While the rain and winds effectively washed away dust and dispersed pollutants, the IMD indicated that the relief might be temporary:

• The IMD forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms on Friday.
• Weather is expected to turn drier over the weekend, with partly cloudy skies on October 31 and November 1 and no rainfall forecast.
• Experts note that if winds weaken and atmospheric conditions change, pollution levels could rise again.

October Air Quality Context

Based on available AQI.in data, Delhi recorded its cleanest October air in three years:

• The average AQI for October 1–29, 2026, was 191.5, compared to 226.1 in 2025 and 236.8 in 2024.
• No days with an AQI of 300 or above were recorded in October 2026 so far, compared to 12 days in October 2024 and 8 days in October 2025.
• Despite this, the month still recorded 16 poor and 13 unhealthy days.

To verify official updates and forecasts, citizens can check bulletins directly from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) or monitor real-time updates on authorized government air quality monitoring portals.