Delhi’s air quality has once again slipped into the ‘poor’ category, with the city recording an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 229 at 9 am on Tuesday. This marks a significant rise from the previous day’s AQI of 186, which was classified as ‘moderate.’ Despite the clear skies, the city is grappling with persistent northwesterly winds that are contributing to both the drop in temperature and the decline in air quality.
As of Tuesday, Delhi’s minimum temperature was recorded at 8°C, which is two degrees below the normal for this time of year. The temperature had been 8.2°C the previous day. According to forecasts, the minimum temperature is expected to dip further by 1-2°C over the next 24 hours, potentially reaching as low as 6°C by Thursday.
Meteorological experts attribute this cooling trend to the impact of fresh snowfall in the mountains, which is expected to affect the plains over the next few days. Delhi also recorded its lowest maximum temperature of the season on Monday, with the mercury peaking at just 21.6°C, three degrees below the seasonal average. This was lower than the previous low of 23.5°C recorded on November 17.
Despite sunshine, the continued influence of northwesterly winds is expected to keep daytime temperatures below normal for the rest of the week.
The city’s air quality has remained in the ‘moderate’ range for most of December, with Monday marking the fourth ‘moderate’ air day so far this month — the highest number recorded since the AQI system was introduced in 2015. While none of the 38 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded a ‘very poor’ air quality, 28 stations registered ‘poor’ air quality, with the highest average AQI of 297 recorded at Jahangirpuri.
Experts suggest that the city’s air quality could fluctuate further depending on the ongoing weather conditions, urging residents to take necessary precautions. While Delhi has not yet experienced a day in the ‘very poor’ category this December, the steady rise in pollution levels remains a concern, especially with colder temperatures setting in.
Sources By Agencies
