India, Feb. 19 -- Delhi's air quality improved to the "moderate" category even as light rain was likely late on Wednesday night and on Thursday and dip the mercury by 1-2degC with the return of cooler northwesterly winds. The minimum temperature dropped a degree below normal to 10.4degC compared to 13.2degC on Tuesday.

The mercury was expected to go up to 27-29degC on Wednesday but drop by a couple of degrees to 25-27degC on Thursday following light rain. The maximum temperature was 28.8degC on Tuesday, or four degrees above normal.

An average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 181 (moderate) was recorded at 9am on Wednesday, compared to 209 (poor) at 4pm on Tuesday. Rain was expected to keep AQI in the "moderate" zone until at least Friday. Th...