Noida, May 2 -- Residents of Gautam Budh Nagar district can look forward to a break from the scorching heat from Friday onwards as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light rain accompanied by gusty winds in the region till May 6. The change in weather will likely occur due to a western disturbance and cyclonic circulation over northwest India, which has already led to a drop in temperature and improved air quality over the last few days. On Thursday, Noida recorded a minimum temperature of 24.8 degrees Celsius (degC), slightly lower than Wednesday's 25.8degC. The maximum temperature settled at 36degC on Thursday, higher than the 33.5degC recorded on Wednesday. According to IMD's regional forecast, rain or thundershowers accompanied by strong gusty winds are expected on May 2 (Friday), with partly cloudy skies and occasional spells of light rain or thunderstorms over the following days. The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to hover at 25degC and 36degC respectively during this period. "It is such a relief to finally sleep without the air conditioner running all night. The breeze has made evenings much more pleasant," said Jyoti Jaiswal, a Sector Ecotech 2 resident. Another resident, Harish Kumar, a senior citizen from Sector 134, Noida, said, "The past few weeks were unbearable. We even avoided going out for evening walks. But now, the winds are cool and even the AQI (air quality index) seems better. IMD officials said that the rain and wind are part of a broader weather pattern seen across north India due to an active western disturbance. "Gautam Budh Nagar, like parts of the NCR (national capital region), will see intermittent rain and gusty winds till at least May 6. This is not a monsoon system but a pre-monsoon activity that typically occurs during this period," said Mahesh Palawat, vice president, and meteorology at Skymet Weather. The changing weather has also benefited local air quality, which had seen a spike in pollutants in early April. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, AQI in Noida has remained in the "moderate" range for the past three days. On Thursday, AQI of Noida and Greater Noida was at 183 and 121 respectively, according to CPCB's daily national bulletin. The district administration, meanwhile, has advised residents to stay indoors during strong winds and avoid parking vehicles under trees or unstable structures. As summer intensifies, these brief spells of relief are likely to become more frequent, meteorologists say, especially as the monsoon approaches in June....