Delhi Weather Today: Grap Stage-1 Invoked In NCR As Air Quality Worsens; Temperature Reaches 42°C

The measurements under Stage 1 of Graded Response Action Plan has been implemented in Delhi-NCR from Thursday evening after the air quality worsened.

New Delhi experienced a severe heat wave with temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius on May 16, 2025, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

A dust storm and rain also lashed the national capital which made the air quality worse.

The minimum temperature is expected to reach around 29 degree Celsius. The city is experiencing mild winds of 7.4 km/hr with humidity at 25 percent. The temperature is expected to reach around 44 degrees in the day.

AQI Worsens In Delhi, Grap-1 Measures Invoked

Commission for Air Quality Management In National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas issued a notice to inform that Stage 1 of GRAP will be implemented across Delhi-NCR as the air quality worsened and stood at 'Poor' with 235 reading earlier today.

CAQM is following the Supreme Court verdict on December 5, 2024 which authorised the organisation to implement GRAP stages according to the level of air quality in the national capital and adjoining areas.

The air quality worsened due to a thick haze that swept through the city on Thursday.

The weather department also notified of an orange alert with a possibility of a dust storm likely in Delhi today.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee had also requested assistance from the Indian Institute of Technology and the IMD to provide innovative and scientific solutions for alleviating the worsening air quality, as reported by Hindustan Times. 

While Delhi is predicted to experience some respite, parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are experiencing severe heat. Temperatures in some parts of Rajasthan have already neared 46 degree Celsius. Heat wave alerts have been issued in several regions of both the states. 

Temperature Rises

The maximum temperature in the capital was recorded at 42.3 degrees celsius, 1.9 notches above normal.

Stations like Aya Nagar recorded a high of 44 degrees Celsius, Palam 43.3 degrees Celsius and Ridge 43.2 degrees Celsius, according to the Met department.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 26.2 degrees Celsius, 0.2 degree below normal.

According to the IMD, the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 40 degrees Celsius both today and tomorrow. Cloud cover, thunderstorms and chances of rain will persist for the remainder of the week. The IMD has predicted thunderstorms with rain on both Friday and Saturday. The temperatures can also rise slightly in the coming days before reducing eventually next week.  

Rain Lashed Delhi

Rain, accompanied by a light thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds with a speed of 30 to 60 kilometres per hour, was reported from several areas, including Narela, Bawana, Burari, Rohini, Karawal Nagar, Delhi University, Mundka, Punjabi Bagh, Kashmiri Gate, Buddha Jayanti Park, ITO, Jafarpur, Najafgarh, Delhi Cantonment, Safdarjung, Lodi Road and parts of the National Capital Region (NCR).

The city's primary weather station at Safdarjung recorded 1.4 mm of rainfall between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The rainfall recorded at other stations included 7.2 mm at Aya Nagar, 3 mm at Ridge, 2.5 mm at Pusa and 2 mm at Pitampura.

"Southeastward-moving convection currently over Rohtak is likely to continue moving towards southeast Delhi and cause rainfall accompanied by winds of 40바카라“50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, over many parts of the city," the IMD said.