Delhi’s air quality improved to the moderate category on Saturday after strong winds dispersed some of the pollution that had worsened over the previous three days, although 22 monitoring areas continued to record air in the poor category.
The national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 191, according to the report, bringing the reading below the 200-mark threshold for the moderate category. The improvement followed an increase in wind speed across Delhi-NCR. The city’s air had entered the poor category for the first time this season three days earlier.
The India Meteorological Department said a western disturbance was positioned as a cyclonic circulation over northern Pakistan and adjoining areas. A trough linked to the system was also present in the region in the form of westerly winds. Another cyclonic circulation was reported over western Rajasthan and nearby areas.
The weather system brought rain and thunderstorms to parts of north-western India. In Haryana, rain accompanied by hail was reported in villages including Birohar, Maliyawas and Kaliyawas in Jhajjar district. Parts of Rajasthan, including Kotputli-Behror, Khairthal-Tijara, Alwar, Deeg, Dausa and Churu, also recorded light to moderate rain with thunderstorms in some locations.
The report said hail and heavy rain were recorded in parts of Alwar’s Mewat region on Friday, while Charkhi Dadri and Rewari in Haryana also received heavy rain accompanied by hail. Light drizzle was reported in Palwal. The IMD had issued a thunderstorm and rain alert for Delhi-NCR and several Haryana districts, including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Sonipat.
For Delhi-NCR, the immediate change in wind conditions provided limited relief after three consecutive days of worsening air quality. However, the continued presence of poor readings in 22 areas indicates that pollution levels remained uneven across the region rather than improving uniformly.
According to the report, meteorologists expect pollution levels in Delhi-NCR to remain around the current range for the next two days because of changing weather conditions. No further rain is expected in Delhi during this period. Maximum temperatures in the capital are likely to remain between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius this week.
The improvement highlights the close relationship between weather and daily air quality in Delhi-NCR. Stronger winds can disperse pollutants, while calmer conditions can allow them to accumulate. The next assessment of the city’s air will depend on whether the current wind pattern continues and how pollution levels vary across individual monitoring locations.
