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.

Cold wave intensifies in Delhi NCR, Cold wave alert, Delhi temperature: The cold wave conditions have further intensified in Delhi-NCR after rain lashed several parts on Friday. The heavy rains threw traffic out of gear in many places.

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.

Due to a new western disturbance from Thursday, light to moderate rain is likely to occur in some parts of Udaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Jaipur, Bharatpur and Bikaner divisions, according to the Meteorological Centre in Jaipur.

At 7:23 am, the temperature in Delhi was recorded at 13 degrees Celsius, with cold winds accentuating the chill. Residents reported a significant increase in the cold severity following the downpour,

The IMD said Safdarjung weather station, which is representative of weather in Delhi, recorded 9.1mm of rain from 11.30pm on Thursday to 8.30am