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.

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.

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.

The IMD has predicted a 'thunderstorm with rain' for Delhi on Friday and Saturday. With this, more showers are expected to drizzle over the city.

Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab regions are expected to witness cold day conditions on December 27 and 28, said IMD.

The cold wave-like situation in India is likely to grow intense in the coming days. Rainfall is predicted in Delhi-NCR and nearby regions, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and other states in the next three days,

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a weather disturbance along with easterly winds is set to influence the weather patterns, resulting in downpours, hailstorms, and thunderstorms in Northwest and Central India on December 27 and December 28.