Wed Dec 25 01:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Delhi-NCR Shivers as Pre-Christmas Rain Plunges Temperatures

**New Delhi, India** – A pre-Christmas spell of rain and a western disturbance have sent temperatures plummeting in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), bringing a biting chill just days before the holiday. On Tuesday evening, light rain resulted in a minimum temperature of 9.9°C, prompting many residents to huddle around bonfires for warmth. The cold wave continues, with light rain and thunderstorms reported in several areas including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast further temperature drops over the next two days, issuing yellow alerts for Wednesday and Friday, warning of winds gusting up to 30-40 kilometers per hour. The western disturbance is also expected to bring light rain or snowfall to parts of the western Himalayas, exacerbating the cold spell in the plains. Authorities have urged residents to take precautions against the plummeting temperatures.

The rain did, however, bring some respite from the severe air pollution. While the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the “very poor” category (358 at 7 PM Tuesday, down from 398 in the morning), it marked a significant improvement from the “severe” category earlier in the day. This improvement led the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to lift some restrictions. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature was 18.4°C (2 degrees below normal), and the humidity ranged from 71% to 100%. The IMD predicts moderate to dense fog on Wednesday, clearing during the day but returning in the evening and night.

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