Delhi's minimum temperature drops to 10.3°C; rain expected next week
What's the story
The national capital, Delhi, witnessed a chilly Sunday morning as the minimum temperature fell to 10.3°C, two degrees below the seasonal average.
This is a considerable drop from Saturday's recorded low of 12.5°C.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has attributed the sudden drop in temperature to the return of cooler northwesterly winds blowing at speeds up to 15km/h in the region.
Weather forecast
IMD predicts rise in temperature, light rain next week
The IMD has forecasted that the coming week will see a rise in both maximum and minimum temperatures due to increased cloudiness and a reduction in wind speed.
A fresh western disturbance is also expected to bring light rain to the city on February 27 and 28.
"There will be cloudiness and a drop in wind speed, causing both maximum and minimum temperatures to rise this week," an IMD official said.
AQI update
Improvement in Delhi's air quality index observed
In terms of air quality, Delhi has witnessed some improvement over the past 24 hours.
The air quality index (AQI) stood at 138, falling under the 'moderate' category, at 9:00am on Sunday.
This is an improvement from Saturday's AQI of 155, which also fell under the 'moderate' category.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies AQI levels between 101 and 200 as 'moderate.'
AQI forecast
AQI expected to remain 'moderate' until February 25
Looking ahead, forecasts by the Centre's Early Warning System for Delhi predict that the city's AQI will stay in the 'moderate' category at least till February 25.
The CPCB categorizes AQI between 0 and 50 as 'good,' between 51 and 100 as 'satisfactory,' between 101 and 200 as 'moderate,' between 201 and 300 as 'poor,' between 301 and 400 as 'very poor,' and over 400 as 'severe.'