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New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday, with cloudy skies likely to persist. Besides the national capital, the IMD has sounded a yellow alert for Noida, Ghaziabad, Gururgram and Faridabad for today.

“Generally cloudy sky. A spell of very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning and gusty winds at a speed of 30-40 kmph during morning to forenoon. Another spell of very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning and gusty winds 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph during the afternoon to evening,” the IMD said in its weather bulletin.

Delhi and its adjoining areas experienced heavy rainfall on Tuesday, bringing temperatures down in the city and nearby areas. The fresh spell of rain also brought much-needed relief from the steadily rising temperatures. According to weather experts, the change in weather was due to shifting wind patterns along with the influence of a western disturbance.

On Tuesday, the national capital recorded its coldest April in the last three years. The maximum temperature settled at 28.8 degrees Celsius, several notches below normal. The city’s maximum temperature had last seen a sharp dip — 28.4 degrees Celsius — on April 1, 2023. The change in weather also disrputed flight operations in the city.

According to the weather office, the maximum and minimum temperatures over Delhi are likely to be in the range of 27 to 29 degrees Celsius and 16 to 18 degrees Celsius, respectively, on Wednesday. The minimum temperature is expected to settle at 17 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature at 28 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category with the Air Quality Index (AQI) of 105, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

According to the CPCB standards, an AQI of zero to 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.