The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a rainy week in Delhi beginning Wednesday. According to the IMD, two major western disturbances are expected to hit the region, causing rainfall and thunderstorms in the national capital from Wednesday till January 9, 2022.
"Two consecutive active Western Disturbances (January 3 to 5 and then January 6 to 9) are quite likely to strike northwest and adjoining central India during the next 7 days," according to the IMD.
According to the IMD, rain is expected to fall in certain parts of Delhi by late evening or night and intensity is likely to be higher tomorrow.
Air Quality Likely to Improve
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Capital breathed marginally cleaner air on Monday, with pollution levels falling out of the 'severe' zone. With rain forecast for Tuesday night, air pollution levels are expected to improve significantly later in the week, according to the pollution watchdog.
Delhi on Monday recorded a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 387, marginally better than 404 (severe), the previous day, showed CPCB’s 4pm bulletin.
Pollution levels are expected to fall even further, according to the central weather office, as a result of two consecutive western disturbances scheduled to impact the region this week.
On Tuesday morning, Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) India, the overall air quality index (AQI) in the national capital was 369.
However, pollution monitoring authorities predict that the air quality in the national capital will improve in the next days due to rain and strong easterly winds.
According to reports, "high winds and intermittent rain on January 5 to 8 are expected to dramatically improve AQI to the 'lower end of very poor' through strong dispersion and wet deposition."
Meanwhile, the maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are likely to hit around 22 and 7 degrees Celsius respectively on Tuesday, as per IMD.
