NEW DELHI: Delhi experienced highly unusual weather this March, with alternating spells of rain and heat, while pollution levels remained elevated throughout.
This year, the national capital recorded its most polluted March in four years, its wettest in three years, and its hottest since 2022.
According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the city registered its most polluted March in four years this year, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 181 till March 30—the highest since 2022, when it stood at 217.
In comparison, the average AQI was 170 in 2023, 176 in 2024, and 170 in 2025. Additionally, Delhi recorded one ‘satisfactory’ day, 22 ‘moderate’ days, and eight ‘poor’ days this March, the analysis showed.
A breakdown of AQI categories indicates that in March 2022, Delhi recorded 12 ‘moderate’ days and 19 ‘poor’ days. In 2023, there were three ‘satisfactory’ days, 20 ‘moderate’ days, and eight ‘poor’ days.
In 2024, the city saw 26 ‘moderate’ days and five ‘poor’ days, while in 2025, there were two ‘satisfactory’ days, 20 ‘moderate’ days, and nine ‘poor’ days.
As per the CREA analysis based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI reading of 266 recorded on March 10 was the highest for the month since 2023.
In terms of weather, the month ranked among the hottest in recent years. The average maximum temperature stood at 32.6 degrees Celsius, the highest in four years. The last time the average maximum temperature was higher in March was in 2022. Meanwhile, the average minimum temperature for March 2026 was 17.6 degrees Celsius, the highest in four years.
Alongside the warm conditions, this was also the wettest March in the last three years. Rainfall in March 2026 was recorded at 19.82 mm, the highest for the month since 2023, when it was higher at 50.4 mm.
Experts pointed out a shift in the nature of pollution this month, with gaseous pollutants playing a more prominent role. Manoj Kumar, analyst at CREA said, “March highlights the growing impo tance of addressing gaseous pollutants like ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide alongside particulate matter.”
Explaining why temperatures remained relatively high despite rainfall, Skymet Weather’s Mahesh Palawat said the showers largely occurred in the late afternoon, after the day’s maximum temperature had already been recorded.