Cyclone Arnab brings rain to Delhi-NCR, air quality to improve
Delhi is expected to get rain today, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for the capital.
In its morning update, the weather agency said that very light to light rain, along with thunder and lightning, is likely at a few places in Delhi, prompting a yellow alert to encourage people to stay updated with the situation.
While the rain arrives due to an interaction between multiple factors, the timing of it could help the capital breathe easier than it has in the past days when the air has remained heavy with pollution. People row a boat amid haze on the Yamuna river, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) advertisement❮❯ Read Full StoryDELHI'S AQI REMAINS HIGHThe showers come just as Delhi is struggling to breathe.
At 9:31 am today, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 363, according to AQI.in, marking yet another day that had begun with a worrying level of pollution. A graph shows the AQI levels in Delhi on October 29, 2026. (Source: AQI.in)
The story, worryingly, has been similar in the last few days.
AQI readings between 22 and 28 October swung from around 140 on some afternoons to well above 330 on many nights and mornings.
Just yesterday, on October 28, the AQI was about 367 at 10 am, fell to roughly 125 by late afternoon, and was back above 300 after 10 pm.
The simple reason for the AQI to be moving with the clock is that the daytime Sun helps pollutants rise and spread out, but once it sets, the smog settles back in.
Today might prove to be different. A graph shows the AQI levels in Delhi from October 21-28, 2026. (Source: AQI.in) WILL DELHI'S AQI IMPROVE?
Delhi is expected to get showers, thanks to two weather systems that are working together.
A western disturbance, which travels in from the west, sits over northwest Uttar Pradesh, and Cyclone Arnab, a very severe storm, was expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October.
The forecast of rain and gusty winds offers some hope of temporary relief, but a sustained improvement in Delhi's air quality is not guaranteed.
Rain can wash some airborne particles out of the atmosphere, while stronger winds can disperse pollutants. The extent of the improvement depends on how much rain falls, how long it lasts, wind direction and whether the atmosphere allows pollutants to mix upwards. Â Vehicles ply on a road amid haze, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
The IMD has forecast gusty winds of 30–50 kmph over Delhi on October 29, along with rain and thunderstorms. Rain is also forecast on October 30, before skies turn partly cloudy over the weekend.
The key question is whether the weather will disperse enough pollution to bring down the AQI across the city, rather than producing a brief improvement at a few monitoring stations.
Even if the air clears temporarily, pollution from vehicles, road dust, construction and other sources can build up again. The next few days of AQI readings will show whether the rain and wind have delivered meaningful relief or merely a short-lived respite.
The need for long-term solutions remains even if rain cleans the air for a brief period. What the rain can't do is get rid of the smoke and dust Delhi produces every day.- Ends
