Delhi saw slight relief from the cold wave as minimum temperatures rose to 4.3°C at Safdarjung, though readings remained significantly below normal across all stations.
The IMD said maximum temperatures are likely to hover around 22°C, following some of the coldest January nights recorded in recent years.
Air quality in the national capital stayed in the very poor category, with the overall AQI at 348 and Pusa recording severe pollution levels.
People in Delhi got a slight respite from bone-chilling temperatures after a five-day cold wave spell, with the city recording a minimum temperature of 4.3 degrees Celsius on Friday, around two notches up from a day earlier.
However, temperatures remained well below normal.
Safdarjung station's 4.3 degrees Celsius was 3.3 notches below the normal. Palam recorded a minimum of 4.7 degrees Celsius, 2.8 notches below normal, while Lodhi Road logged 4.7 degrees Celsius, 1.3 notches below normal.
The Ridge station recorded a relatively higher minimum of 6 degrees Celsius, though it was still 3.5 notches below normal, and Ayanagar reported 4.3 degrees Celsius.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 22 degrees Celsius.
On Thursday, Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 2.9 degrees Celsius, the lowest January minimum since 2023. Palam had recorded a minimum temperature of 2.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, its lowest since 2010.
Meanwhile, air quality in the national capital remained in the very poor category.
The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 348, with 33 stations recording 'very poor' air quality, four stations in the 'poor' category and one station in the 'severe' range. Pusa recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 403.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.