The air quality in Delhi has remained in the “very poor” category for a fourth consecutive day, with forecasts indicating a potential decline due to dropping wind speeds. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 311 at 9 am, a slight increase from the previous day’s reading of 309. Meteorological experts anticipate that wind speeds will significantly decrease on Tuesday and remain nearly stagnant on Wednesday, a condition attributed to a western disturbance. This is expected to contribute to haze and increased pollution.
The Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi predicts that the AQI will stay in the “very poor” category through Thursday. While some monitoring stations reported AQI levels in the “severe” zone, including Alipur (421), Anand Vihar (412), Bawana (402), and Wazirpur (407), others indicated moderate conditions, with some data gaps noted in specific locations.
Forecasters suggest that a combination of reduced wind speed and increased moisture in the air will worsen the pollution. While moderate rains are expected in parts of Punjab and Haryana, the chances of rain in Delhi are low. A potential improvement in air quality is anticipated from November 6th onwards, with the return of strong northwesterly winds and a drop in night-time temperatures. Delhi’s maximum temperature was recorded at 31.5°C, with expectations of a slight dip to 28-30°C in the coming days due to overcast skies. Minimum temperatures are predicted to fall below 15°C from Thursday.
Historically, northwesterly winds have played a role in transporting stubble smoke to the Delhi-NCR region. While the contribution from stubble burning was noted as low recently, it has reached up to 35% in previous years during early November.
Key Takeaways:
- Delhi’s air quality has been in the ‘very poor’ category for four days straight.
- Wind speeds are expected to decrease, potentially worsening pollution levels.
- The Early Warning System forecasts continued ‘very poor’ air quality through Thursday.
- Several areas recorded AQI in the ‘severe’ zone, indicating significant pollution.
- A potential improvement is expected from November 6th with the return of northwesterly winds.