With 88.2 mm of rain, Delhi had its heaviest rain in January since 1901

According to the India Meteorological Department, a period of rain late Saturday night raised Delhi's total precipitation for January to 88.2 mm, the highest for the month since 1901. (IMD).

According to IMD data, the capital had 79.7 mm of rain in 1989 and 73.7 mm in 1953.

So far this month, the Safdarjung Observatory, which collects representative statistics for the city, has recorded six rainy days and 88.2 mm of rain. In the 24 hours leading up to 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, it received 19.7 mm of rain.

According to data on the IMD's website, the Palam Observatory got a record 110 mm of precipitation this month.

The minimum temperature in the national capital was 10.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, three degrees above usual, while the maximum temperature was 14.9 degrees Celsius, six degrees below normal.

According to the IMD, the relative humidity at 5.30 p.m. was 84 percent.

On Monday, the highest and minimum temperatures are forecast to be 16 and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Delhi's air quality is rated as poor:

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi's air quality was classified as "bad" on Sunday.

At 7.05 p.m., the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi, Faridabad (115), and Gurgaon (172), Faridabad (115), Ghaziabad (165), Greater Noida (140), and Noida (140) was 201. (148).

An AQI of zero to fifty is deemed "excellent," 51 to one hundred "acceptable," 101 to 200 "moderate," 201 to 300 "poor," 301 to 400 "extremely poor," and 401 to 500 "severe."

The rain also lowered the maximum temperature in the capital to 14.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, seven degrees below normal and the season's lowest so far.

Since the second week of January, maximum temperatures have been lower than typical. Temperatures at night have been near or above normal.

According to Mahest Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change), Skymet Weather, this is mostly due to clouds and rain preventing long exposure to sunlight between January 9 and January 19.

Rainfall between January 7 and 9 increased moisture in the air, resulting in foggy conditions in the midst of cold temperatures.

"Cold day conditions persisted in large parts of the capital and neighbouring areas till January 16 due to fog and low clouds. The day temperature fell again under the influence of back-to-back western disturbances (WDs) from January 16," he said.

According to Palawat, Delhi had six WDs in January this year, compared to three to four WDs in the same month last year.

"Delhi saw three WDs between January 1 and January 9. Three more have impacted the capital since January 16, the latest being on January 21," he said.

Clouds and rain keep the sun out, lowering the temperature during the day. Clouds hold the heat that escapes during the day, allowing temperatures to rise above usual at night.

In the next days, the minimum temperature in Delhi is expected to drop three to four degrees Celsius, according to the IMD.