Delhi Records Cleanest July in a Decade Amid Wet Spell, IMD Extends Forecast Till August 3

Delhi has registered its cleanest air for the month of July over the past 10 years with regular rainfall on 23 of 31 days of the month, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

The AQI of national capital at 12 pm on August was recorded as 56 according to the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi. On July 31, the AQI was recorded as 59 at 4 pm meanwhile HT reported that the monthly average air quality index (AQI) has been 79 until July 30, which is categorised as “satisfactory”, as per CPCB.

The average AQI in July 2024 stood at 96 and in July 2023, it was 83.67.

CPCB classifies AQI between 0 and 50 as “good”, between 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, between 101 and 200 as “moderate”, between 201 and 300 as “poor”, between 301 and 400 as “very poor”, and over 400 as “severe”.

According to HT, the highest AQI average in July was 145.64, recorded in 2016. The average AQI for July in 2022 was 87.29; 110.06 in 2021; 83.80 in 2020; 134 in 2019; 103.83 in 2018; 98.39 in 2017; and 138.13 in 2015.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on July 31 described the month as the best in the city’s recorded history. “29 out of 31 days in July 2025 recorded ‘Good’ or ‘Satisfactory’ air quality – best July in Delhi’s recorded history and 126 Clean Air days recorded since January 1^st to July 31^st 2025,” Sirsa told ANI.

“Today’s AQI is 59, with a majority of city hotspots also in the ‘Good’ or ‘Satisfactory’ category. Multi-tiered environment action plan includes Van Mahotsav, dust control measures at construction and demolition (C&D) sites, mechanised sweeping, misting systems, landfill bio-mining and preparations for artificial rain,” the environmental minister added further.

Rain Spells to Continue in the Capital

Delhi is expected to experience a fresh spell of rain over the next three days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted light to moderate showers accompanied by thunderstorms till August 3, reported NDTV.             

According to the IMD's bulletin published on July 31, heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over parts of the Northeast and adjoining eastern India over the next seven days. However, the intensity of rainfall is expected to decrease marginally in Delhi starting August 7.

Delhi will record very light to light rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms or lightning on August 7. Maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to remain below normal, ranging between 33 to 35 degrees Celsius and 23 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively between August 1 and 7.