New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) It was a cold and cloudy Wednesday morning in the national capital with the minimum temperature recorded at 9.5 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's average.

"Generally cloudy sky, with possibility of light to moderate rain and thundershower accompanied with hailstorm or lightning are expected during the day," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told IANS.

The overall air quality in the city at 9 a.m. was 106, which is 'moderate'. Strong surface winds and rain and hailstorm over the past few days have helped in washing away significant amount of pollutants.

The maximum temperature was expected to hover around 21 degrees Celsius.

The humidity at 8.30 a.m., was recorded at 91 per cent.

Tuesday's maximum temperature settled at 21 degrees Celsius, five notches below the season's average while the minimum was recorded at 10.3 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average.

--IANS aks/in