Delhi is set to experience cloudy skies with chances of light rain or thundershowers today, Monday, August 11. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that humidity will remain high throughout the day, ranging between 63% and 76% until afternoon. According to private forecaster Accuweather, cloud cover will persist with occasional showers in parts of the city.
As per IMD’s latest bulletin, the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 34°C and the minimum around 25°C. This pattern of humid, cloudy weather with occasional rainfall is likely to continue until August 16.
On Sunday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 33.6°C, which was just 0.6°C below normal. However, the minimum temperature was significantly lower at 23.8°C, 3.2°C below normal. Rain that lashed the capital on Saturday continued in some places on Sunday as well. According to IMD data, 26.6 mm of rainfall was recorded till 8:30 AM on Sunday.
The showers have also brought a noticeable improvement in the city’s air quality. At 2:30 AM on Monday, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 91, falling in the “satisfactory” category. Most areas reported AQI levels under 100, with exceptions like Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Okhla, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, Wazirpur, Anand Vihar, and Mathura Road where AQI crossed the 100 mark.
In a major step to curb pollution and improve air quality, the Delhi government is set to conduct its first-ever cloud seeding operation — an artificial rain project. This initiative, led jointly by the Delhi Environment Department and IIT Kanpur, will involve dispersing a scientifically prepared mix of silver iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt into clouds to induce rainfall.
For this purpose, a specially modified Cessna 206H aircraft will be deployed to target polluted areas in Delhi and parts of western Uttar Pradesh. Each flight will last around 90 minutes and cover approximately 100 square kilometres.
Originally planned for July, the trial was delayed due to the extended monsoon and is now expected to take place in late August or early September.
If successful, this project could not only reduce pollution levels but also provide relief from the capital’s heat and humidity.
