What caused Delhi's air quality to become poor on Friday?

A dust storm in the early morning hours of Friday, April 5, 2026, was the primary cause for the sharp increase in Delhi's air quality index to 266, categorizing it as 'poor'.

When is rain expected in Delhi to improve air quality?

Light rain is anticipated on April 3-4 and again on April 7-8, with improving weather conditions expected in the following days. A yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms is in effect for Saturday, April 6.

How did the temperatures change in Delhi?

The maximum temperature dropped by more than three degrees Celsius on Friday, April 5, 2026, to 33.7 degrees Celsius. Overnight cloud cover also caused the minimum temperature to rise significantly.

Home / Weather / Delhi Chokes: Dust Storm Sparks Major Pollution Spike

Delhi Chokes: Dust Storm Sparks Major Pollution Spike

3 Apr

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Summary

Dust storm significantly raised Delhi's AQI to 266, entering the poor category.
Pollution levels are expected to improve with rain predicted for April 3-4.
Maximum temperatures saw a decrease of over three degrees Celsius.

Delhi Chokes: Dust Storm Sparks Major Pollution Spike

Early on Friday, April 5, 2026, a dust storm swept through Delhi, significantly increasing air pollution. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 266 by 4 pm, placing it in the 'poor' category. This marked a sharp deterioration from the previous day's 'moderate' AQI of 194.

The dust storm also coincided with a noticeable drop in temperature. The maximum temperature recorded on Friday was 33.7 degrees Celsius, over three degrees lower than the day before. Overnight cloud cover caused the minimum temperature to rise significantly.

Looking ahead, the situation is expected to improve. Light rain is forecast for April 3-4 and again on April 7-8, with weather conditions anticipated to get better. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Saturday, April 6, warning of rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. Maximum temperatures are projected to fall over the next seven days.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.