Cloud cover expected on Republic Day

Delhites, who would assemble at the India Gate on Saturday braving the early morning chills may miss the most enthralling part of the Republic Day parade – the magnificent flypast by the Indian Air Force.

Delhi and its four satellite towns are likely to experience a cloudy sky on January 26, thanks to a fresh spell of Western Disturbance that is slated to tell upon the weather pattern in the western Himalayas from next Friday (January 25).

“While rains are not likely in Delhi NCR on January 26, the sky will be overcast. Whether the IAF fly past would be visible to the crowd depends on the depth of the cloud cover,” K J Ramesh, director general of India Meteorological Department told DH.

IAF plans a flypast comprising 33 aircraft including 18 combat jets. While low flying helicopters may be visible to the spectators, weathermen fear that the fighter planes may not be visible.

The new wave of the Western Disturbance – a storm that originates in the Mediterranean – will spare Delhi from showers but can bring rains to east of Delhi and parts of Uttarakhand.

It will come within days of another spell of the Mediterranean storm that brought rains to Delhi-NCR and surrounding areas for two consecutive days, lowering the pollution level.

Residents of Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad Tuesday woke up to dark sky and heavy downpour that triggered water-logging and traffic snarls in several parts of the NCR. But on the plus side, pollution level has nosedived in the wake of the shower.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board's air quality index, Delhi and Ghaziabad recorded a AQI of 104 (out of a scale of 500) whereas the corresponding figures for Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad are below 100. Faridabad is the cleanest with an AQI of 87.

Some of the areas in Delhi-NCR such as Janakpuri in west Delhi and Gurugram received also hail storms. The wet spell that had befallen on the northwest India since the last two days was due to a Western Disturbance that was lying over Pakistan and adjoining parts of Jammu and Kashmir, causing snowfall in the upper reaches and widespread rains in the plains.