India, Feb. 20 -- Parts of Delhi recorded light rain in the early hours of Thursday keeping the air quality in the "moderate" category even as the minimum temperature rose to the highest so far this year to 15degC, or three degrees above normal, compared to 10.4degC a day earlier. Very light rain was expected in parts of the city in the afternoon too.

Safdarjung, which is representative of Delhi's weather, received 0.9mm of rainfall in the 24 hours until 8:30am on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Palam and Lodhi Road recorded 1mm each of rainfall in the same period. Ayanagar received 1.4mm of rain, Ridge 0.2mm, Pusa and Mayur Vihar 0.5mm each.

Private forecaster Skymet Weather vice president Mahesh Palawat said a...