Delhi-NCR woke up to an unusual spell of dense fog and cloud cover on Saturday (March 21) morning, a day after heavy rainfall and thunderstorms brought a sharp dip in temperatures, delivering the coldest March day in six years and a noticeable improvement in air quality across the region. The sudden weather shift comes as a relief for residents who had been experiencing rising heat in early March.
According to India Meteorological Department, the capital will see a partly cloudy sky with temperatures ranging between 26–28°C (max) and 13–15°C (min) on Saturday, while light winds through the day will keep conditions pleasant and slightly cooler than usual for late March.
Coldest March Day in Six Years, Wettest in Two
According to data from IMD, the Safdarjung Observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 21.7°C, nearly 10°C below the seasonal average on Friday. Other parts of the city, including Palam and Lodhi Road, reported similar dips, marking the lowest March temperatures since 2020.
Just days before this intense heat had grip Delhi, with temperatures touching 36°C at Safdarjung and peaking at 38.9°C at Ridge observatory on March 8, by March 11, Safdarjung still recorded a high of 36.8°C, well above normal.
The shift began around March 18, when moisture-laden winds combined with an active western disturbance, triggering the formation of convective clouds and bringing heavy rainfall. By Friday, the maximum temperature plunged to 21.7°C, nearly 10 degrees below normal and the lowest for March in six years, close to the 21.2°C recorded on March 8, 2020.
The city’s average rainfall for the month is 16.2 mm, making it the wettest March since 2023, when the average stood at 50.4 mm. A long rain band stretching across North India further intensified the cooling effect, forcing residents to pull out light woollens once again.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast another spell of rain on March 23, after which temperatures are expected to gradually rise again from the weekend.
Weekly Outlook – Rain and Thunderstorm
According to India Meteorological Department, temperatures will gradually rise over the week, touching 31–33°C by March 25–26, with mostly partly cloudy skies; however, a brief spell of light rain or thunderstorm is possible around March 23, after which dry and warmer conditions are expected to dominate.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the minimum temperature on Saturday is expected to be around 14 degrees Celsius and the maximum 27 degrees Celsius. No rain was recorded in the morning, unlike Friday, when the city recorded 7 mm of precipitation.
Delhi Weather Forecast
22 March — Generally cloudy sky predicted for the day. Temperatures reach 30°/16° with moderate humidity of 90/65.
23 March — Generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle possible. Temp 31°/17°, high humidity at 95/70.
24 March — Partly cloudy sky forecast for the day. Temperatures at 31°/17° with comfortable humidity levels of 80/50.
25 March — Partly cloudy sky expected. Slightly warmer at 32°/17° with humidity holding steady at 80/50.
26 March — Partly cloudy sky continuing. Temperatures at 32°/18°, humidity at 80/50, no weather warnings issued.
Rain Brings Clean Air Relief – AQI Cleanest in Six Months
The rainfall also led to a dramatic improvement in Delhi’s air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 93, placing it in the ‘satisfactory’ category. This marks the first such day in about five months (161 days), with the last time the city recorded ‘satisfactory’ air quality on October 9, 2025, when the AQI stood at 99.
The air quality is likely to be in the ‘moderate’ category from Saturday to March 23, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System.
According to CPCB standards, an AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.
