Delhi had an unusual spell of cold and rainy weather towards the end of October 2026 which broke several weather records and gave temporary relief from air pollution. On Friday, October 30, the national capital recorded its lowest October maximum temperature in 75 years while its air quality improved significantly after heavy rainfall.
The maximum temperature at Safdarjung observatory (Delhi’s main weather station) was 20.7 degrees Celsius 10.3 degrees below seasonal normal. IMD records show that this was the lowest October maximum temperature recorded in Delhi since 1951.
The city also recorded AQI of 60 on Friday its cleanest October day since October 10, 2022. Delhi’s average AQI for October was 167, lowest monthly October average since 2015, said Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
Delhi Records Lowest October Maximum Temperature Since 1951
Persistent rain and overcast skies brought Delhi an unexpected winter-like chill on October 30.
The maximum temperature at Safdarjung was 20.7 degrees Celsius which is way below normal for this time of the year.
Other weather stations across the capital also recorded unusually low maximum temperatures:
- Palam: 20.5 degrees Celsius
- Lodhi Road: 20.6 degrees Celsius
- The Ridge: 20.8 degrees Celsius
- Ayanagar: 20.4 degrees Celsius
The minimum temperature at Safdarjung was 17.2 °C (1° above normal).
Humidity was high, clouds were thick and rain fell intermittently. Shallow fog in the early morning and late evening hours also contributed to the winter-like feeling.
People were wearing jackets and warm clothing as temperatures remained unusually low for late October.
Heavy Rainfall Makes October One of Delhi's Wettest in Recent Years
Delhi received 61.4 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on October 30 after weather department issued heavy rain alerts.
Rain continued at several places during the day. Safdarjung received another 4.2 mm of rain between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm; Palam got 3 mm and Lodhi Road got 4 mm.
Friday was the wettest October day in four years and sixth-wettest since 1951. The last time Delhi had higher daily rainfall in October was on Oct 9, 2022 when it got 74 mm of rain.
The cumulative rainfall at Safdarjung was 123.3 mm by 8:30 am on October 30 and this made October 2026 the fourth-wettest October at the observatory since 1951.
Delhi’s normal monthly rainfall for October is 15.1 mm. So this month’s rainfall was much higher than usual.
Delhi Records Cleanest October Air Since 2015
Rainfall also brought improvement in Delhi’s air quality.
The AQI dropped to 60 on October 30, which put it in the satisfactory category under the Central Pollution Control Board’s classification. It was the lowest daily AQI recorded in October since October 10, 2022 when it stood at 44.
Of the 54 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi, 33 recorded satisfactory air quality; 17 good and four moderate.
Lodhi Road recorded the cleanest air among the monitoring stations (AQI 33). Pusa had highest AQI reading of 105.
The monthly average AQI also improved. CREA’s analysis showed Delhi had an average AQI of 167 in October 2026 — the lowest October average since 2015.
For comparison, the average AQI in October 2025 was 223 and in October 2024 it was 234.
The results show a huge improvement in the city’s air quality compared with recent October months but meteorological conditions were important too.
Rainfall Helped Reduce Pollution Levels
Rainfall can improve air quality because it helps to remove suspended particles from the atmosphere. Rainfall changes atmospheric conditions and can temporarily reduce the concentration of certain pollutants.
Heavy rainfall in Delhi coincided with AQI dropping to 60.
CREA’s study showed that weather conditions should be taken into account when measuring improvements in air quality. Cleaner readings shouldn’t be counted on purely as a result of pollution-control measures because rainfall and other meteorological factors can also affect them.
The improvement is particularly important because October usually signals the start of Delhi’s more difficult pollution season — when temperatures are lower, wind speeds are slower and other things can cause pollutants to pile up.
Will Delhi’s air quality be clean in November?
Friday’s improvement may be only temporary.
The Air Quality Early Warning System forecast that Delhi’s AQI would remain in the moderate category on Saturday (October 31) before dropping to poor category on November 1.
The weather forecast for the following six days also mentioned poor and very poor air quality.
Unfavourable weather conditions (low wind speed, poor dispersion of pollutants) could also lead to higher pollution levels.
The weather department forecast partly cloudy skies on Saturday and said maximum and minimum temperatures would remain around 24 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius respectively.
Delhi's Weather and Pollution Records: Key Takeaways
The unusual weather conditions at the end of October resulted in several records:
- Lowest October maximum temperature since 1951: 20.7 degrees Celsius.
- On 30 October daily rainfall: 61.4 mm in the previous 24 hours.
- Daily AQI on October 30: 60.
- October average AQI: 167 lowest for month since 2015.
- October cumulative rainfall: 123.3 mm by 8:30 am on October 30.
Heavy rainfall, unusually low temperatures and good air quality made the end of October 2026 an exceptional weather period for Delhi.
But pollution levels are expected to rise again in early November so residents may not enjoy that improvement for long. Days ahead will tell how Delhi’s air quality changes as winter settles in more firmly.
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