Delhi AQI is forecast to remain in the poor category for the next six days as falling temperatures and changing weather conditions coincide with a rise in pollution across the capital. The air quality index, which stood at 161 in the morning, increased to 179 by 4 pm on Tuesday, while several monitoring locations recorded readings above 200 by evening.
According to the air-quality early warning system cited in the report, Delhi’s air quality is likely to reach the poor category on 21 and 22 October and remain poor over the following six days. The forecast comes as the capital records a gradual fall in temperatures, with the nights becoming cooler than the daytime period.
The India Meteorological Department data cited in the report showed that Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 30.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, 0.8 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature was 17.7 degrees Celsius, 0.7 degrees below the seasonal normal. Maximum humidity was recorded at 96 per cent, while the minimum humidity was 41 per cent.
The deterioration was visible across the city’s monitoring network. At 8 am, around a dozen locations had recorded AQI levels above 200. By 6 pm, the number had risen to 17 locations, according to the report. Bawana recorded an AQI of 264, Jahangirpuri 261, Dwarka Sector 8 252, NSUT Dwarka 241, Mundka 236 and DTU 230. Other locations above 200 included Chandni Chowk at 223, Najafgarh at 213, Narela at 212, IIT Delhi at 207 and the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range at 202.
Under the Central Pollution Control Board’s classification, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor and 401 to 500 severe. The rise from the moderate range in the morning to near the poor threshold by afternoon indicates how quickly air-quality conditions can change during the day across the capital.
The weather department has forecast further changes over the next two days. Delhi’s maximum temperature on Wednesday is expected to remain between 31 and 33 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature may range from 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. Partly cloudy skies are possible on 24 and 25 October, although rain is not expected, according to the forecast cited in the report. The air-quality early warning system’s six-day outlook remains the immediate indicator for the next phase of pollution conditions in the city.
