Delhi is likely to witness generally cloudy skies on Friday, August 14, with spells of very light to light rain expected at a few places, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which also issued a red alert.

The maximum temperature is likely to settle between 33°C and 35°C, while the minimum could remain between 26°C and 28°C. Winds are expected to blow from the northwest at around 5-15 kmph during the day.

This comes after rain lashed several parts of Delhi on Thursday, disrupting traffic movement during peak hours as commuters faced slow movement, waterlogging and snarls across key stretches. The showers added to the traffic challenges in central Delhi, where restrictions and diversions were already in place ahead of the Independence Day full-dress rehearsal at the Red Fort.

The forecast comes after Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 35.2°C and a minimum of 28°C on Thursday, with no rainfall recorded during the day.

The weather outlook suggests that rain activity will remain relatively subdued compared with the heavy showers witnessed earlier in August. However, isolated spells could still bring temporary relief from the heat and humidity.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality slipped into the moderate category on Thursday after remaining satisfactory for several days. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 105, marking the city’s first moderate AQI day in more than 12 days, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

Very light to light rain is likely, with a spell of around 5 mm possible during the early morning between 4 am and 6 am, with a 70% probability. Another spell of around 5 mm is expected between 6 am and 9 am, with a 60% probability.

A further spell of very light rainfall of around 3 mm is possible from the afternoon to evening, also with a 60% probability.

The capital is likely to continue seeing generally cloudy skies and occasional very light rain through the weekend. On August 16 and 17, maximum temperatures are expected to remain around 33°C-35°C, with minimum temperatures between 23°C and 25°C.

For August 18 and 19, the maximum is likely to remain between 32°C and 35°C, while minimum temperatures could hover around 22°C-24°C.

The broader monsoon pattern is expected to remain active across Delhi and northwest India, with widespread rainfall forecast over Delhi and neighbouring regions around August 14-15.

Commuters are advised to remain alert for sudden showers, particularly during peak travel hours, as even brief rainfall can lead to waterlogging and traffic disruptions in low-lying areas.