Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Delhi Sees Wetter August, Warm Nights and Higher AQI
Delhi had a much rainier August than usual.
The first seven days were the wettest start to August there in 15 years.
Safdarjung also received very heavy rain on August 25.
Even with all this rain, the days and nights stayed warmer than normal.
The average daytime temperature was 34.1°C.
The average nighttime temperature was 26.8°C.
Delhi’s average air quality was worse than in recent years, with an AQI of 92.
However, most of the measured days still had satisfactory air quality.
Delhi received 653.9 mm of monsoon rainfall at Safdarjung, 29% above normal.
Safdarjung recorded 354.1 mm of rain in August, 59% above its monthly average.
The city had its wettest first week of August in 15 years, with 127 mm of rain.
Safdarjung’s average maximum temperature reached 34.1°C, while the minimum was 26.8°C.
Delhi’s average August AQI was 92, its highest since 2023, though 19 of 28 days were satisfactory.
- Who
- Delhi residents and weather observers, with data from the India Meteorological Department and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
- What
- Delhi experienced above-normal monsoon and August rainfall, high temperatures, and its highest average August AQI since 2023.
- When
- August, with rainfall and temperature figures reported through August 29 and the report issued August 30.
- Where
- Delhi, with rainfall measurements cited from Safdarjung, Palam, Lodhi Road, the Ridge, and Ayanagar.
- Why
- The weather data show rainfall surpluses across Delhi, while the air-quality average rose despite most days remaining satisfactory.
- Monsoon rainfall
- Safdarjung recorded 653.9 mm since the monsoon began, 29% above the 506.7 mm long-period average.
- August rainfall
- Safdarjung received 354.1 mm in August, compared with a normal 222.9 mm.
- Wettest first week
- Delhi received 127 mm during August 1–7, the highest first-week total since 2011.
- Heaviest daily spell
- Safdarjung recorded 99.1 mm in 24 hours on August 25.
- Average maximum temperature
- The average maximum at Safdarjung was 34.1°C through August 29, the highest in two years.
- Average minimum temperature
- The average minimum temperature was 26.8°C, the highest since 2023.
- Average AQI
- Delhi’s average AQI for 28 August days was 92; 19 days were satisfactory and nine were moderate.