Delhi's air improved by a whopping 78.5% in just 24 hours, with the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) falling from 363 on Thursday morning to 78 on Friday morning, October 30, according to AQI.in data recorded at 9:31 am.The significant improvement was a result of the widespread rain and winds that swept across the capital on the intervening night of October 29-30. The heavy rain and strong winds that cleansed the capital's air were a result of a western disturbance and weather systems associated with Cyclone Arnab.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning occurred at most places in Delhi over the preceding 24 hours, with heavy rain at isolated locations.

A graph illustrating Delhi's AQI in the last 24 hours. RAIN WASHES AWAY POLLUTION, TEMPERATURES FALLDelhi recorded substantial rainfall across several weather stations.

Safdarjung received 61.4 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Friday, while Lodhi Road recorded 63.4 mm and Palam 43.1 mm.Rain proved helpful because it can help remove dust and pollutants from the air, while winds can disperse pollution. #WATCH | Delhi: Light rain witnessed in the national capital; visuals from Shanti Path area. https://t.co/mMG4CTWEsV— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2026The wet spell also brought down temperatures across the capital, with Safdarjung recording a maximum temperature of 25.4°C on Thursday, 6.4°C below the previous day's reading.The minimum temperature stood at 17.2°C, down by 2°C, and the maximum temperature had fallen by 4-6°C across Delhi.HOW LONG WILL DELHI'S CLEAN AIR LAST?The improvement in the AQI, however, could face yet another test as weather conditions change.The IMD has forecast another spell of very light to light rain at many places on Friday, with moderate rainfall at a few locations and thunderstorms likely during the day. People walk amid smog in New Delhi.

However, the weather is expected to turn drier over the weekend, the IMD said in its bulletin on Friday morning. It added that Delhi is likely to remain partly cloudy on October 31 and November 1, with no rainfall forecast.With the rain easing, pollution levels could begin rising again if winds weaken and atmospheric conditions favour the accumulation of pollutants.

The improvement, therefore, may offer temporary relief but doesn't mark the end of Delhi's pollution spell.CLEANEST OCTOBER AIR SINCE 2024Another thing is that Delhi has recorded its cleanest October air in three years, based on the available AQI.in data. People walk amid poor air quality in New Delhi.

The city's average AQI for October 1–29, 2026, stood at 191.5, around 15% lower than the average of 226.1 for the same 29-day period in 2025 and 19% below the corresponding 2024 average of 236.8.The improvement is particularly evident in the number of severely polluted days.Delhi has not recorded a single day with an AQI of 300 or above in October 2026 so far. In comparison, it recorded 12 such days during October 2024 and eight during October 2025.However, the improvement does not mean consistently clean air.

Delhi still recorded 16 poor and 13 unhealthy days in October so far.- Ends