Rain swept through Delhi early Friday morning, intensifying the ongoing cold wave conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had warned that weather conditions were set to worsen starting December 27.

The Regional Meteorology Centre, New Delhi, predicted light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and shallow to moderate fog in the national capital.

According to the IMD, a western disturbance is likely to interact with lower-level easterly winds, resulting in scattered to fairly widespread rainfall and snowfall over the western Himalayan region and intense cold waves in northern states.

Despite the rainfall, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) improved slightly on Thursday but stayed in the "very poor" category at 340. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Pusa recorded an AQI of 353, North Campus at 342, Mundka at a severe level of 413, Wazirpur at 392, IGI Airport (T3) at 340, Dwarka Sector-8 at 412, RK Puram at 410.

Residents are advised to take precautions against the chilly weather and prepare for the intensifying cold wave

Due to a new western disturbance from Thursday, light to moderate rain is likely to occur in some parts of Udaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Jaipur, Bharatpur and Bikaner divisions, according to the Meteorological Centre in Jaipur.

At 7:23 am, the temperature in Delhi was recorded at 13 degrees Celsius, with cold winds accentuating the chill. Residents reported a significant increase in the cold severity following the downpour,

The IMD said Safdarjung weather station, which is representative of weather in Delhi, recorded 9.1mm of rain from 11.30pm on Thursday to 8.30am

Temperature in Delhi stood at 13 degree Celsius at 7:23am as the weather department forecast heavy rain and strong winds for December 27th and 28th.