On a day Delhi saw the minimum temperature drop to 4.9 degrees Celsius Sunday, the air quality index (AQI) inched closer to the ‘very poor’ category. The AQI was 294 (poor), according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It deteriorated from Saturday’s 193 in the moderate category owing to low wind speed and a dip in minimum temperature.
According to the air quality forecast system developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune, the AQI will be in the ‘very poor’ category till Wednesday. For the subsequent six days, it has forecast the air quality to fluctuate between ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’.
On Sunday, the minimum temperature was below normal by 3.7 notches while the maximum was near normal at 23.2 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung station.
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that no cold wave conditions were reported in any of the stations in Delhi. According to the Met office, a cold wave is declared when the normal minimum temperature in the plains is less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius and the departures are more than 4.4 degrees Celsius or when actual temperatures dip below 4.1 degrees Celsius.
The wind speed was below 6 kmph on Sunday morning, the IMD stated. Saturday recorded a wind speed of up to 16 kmph. An average wind speed below 10 kmph is unfavourable for the dispersal of pollutants, as per CPCB.
Moderate fog conditions are forecast till Tuesday. The minimum temperature is forecast to hover between 5 and 7 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is forecast to be between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius for the week.
The IMD has forecast low wind speeds reaching up to 8 kmph blowing from the Northwest direction to prevail during the week predominantly.
Why should you buy our Subscription?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be misled and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package
