It’s Friday, January 23, 2026, and if you’re in Delhi, you probably woke up to the sound of rain and that specific winter-rain smell. It’s a mess out there, but let’s be real—it’s a welcome one.
The thing is, the IMD has slapped an Orange Alert on the city. We’re talking light to moderate rain and thunderstorms that are supposed to keep coming throughout the day. Or nothing.
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Delhi’s Rainy Friday: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where a Western Disturbance is playing havoc with the local atmosphere. Here’s the ground reality:
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The Temperature Rollercoaster: Yesterday was weirdly warm—the warmest January day in seven years at 27.1°C. But today? That’s gone. The mercury has already tanked, and we’re expecting a high of only 18-19°C. By tomorrow, the minimum could hit 7°C. Those too.
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The AQI “Wash”: Here’s the silver lining—the rain actually scrubbed the air a bit. The AQI was sitting at 297 at 7 AM. Still “poor,” but way better than the “severe” levels we’ve been choking on lately. Or nothing.
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The “Nowcast” Warning: The thing is, the wind is the real kicker. We’re looking at gusty winds between 40 and 60 kmph. If you’re commuting, watch out for shallow fog and that slippery “first rain” mud on the roads.
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GRAP Rollback: Interestingly, because of this rain-cleansing, the CAQM revoked Stage III of GRAP yesterday. So, some construction and BS-III/IV restrictions are easing up. Let’s be real—the weather did what the policies couldn’t.
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Delhi Weather Quick-Spec (Jan 23-24)
| Metric | Friday (Today) | Saturday (Tomorrow) | The “Ground” Reality |
| Alert Level | Orange Alert | Yellow Alert | Heaviest rain is expected today. |
| Max Temp | 18-19°C | 17°C | A sharp 8-degree drop from yesterday. |
| Wind Speed | 40-60 kmph | 20-30 kmph | It’s going to feel way chillier than it looks. |
| AQI Status | 297 (Poor) | ~250 (Moderate-Poor) | Rain is finally settling the dust. |
| Rain Chance | 92% | <10% | Friday is the washout; Saturday is just cloudy. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The thing is, while the rain helps the air, the IMD is warning of dense fog returning as soon as the clouds clear on Saturday night. Let’s be real—the “winter chill” isn’t leaving; it’s just getting started again after that weird warm spell. Those too.
One side comment—if you have plans for Republic Day on Monday, the early forecast looks clear but very cold. It’s an ongoing situation, so keep the heavy jackets ready. Or nothing.
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End…
