Delhi recorded above-normal maximum and minimum temperatures on Tuesday, while air quality worsened to the ‘very poor’ category at Dwarka Sector 8, where the Air Quality Index reached 305, according to data reported by Millennium Post and attributed to official monitoring systems.
Across the capital’s 44 air-quality monitoring stations, 32 recorded ‘moderate’ air quality and 11 recorded ‘poor’ readings. Mundka reported the worst ‘poor’ reading at 266, followed by Narela at 241. The Dwarka Sector 8 station was the only location to enter the ‘very poor’ category. It had last recorded ‘very poor’ air quality on May 25, when its AQI was 322.
The Central Pollution Control Board classifies AQI readings from 0 to 50 as ‘good’, 51 to 100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 as ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 as ‘poor’, 301 to 400 as ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 as ‘severe’. Delhi’s average AQI stood at 179, placing the city in the ‘moderate’ category despite the higher readings recorded at individual stations.
The Air Quality Early Warning System has forecast that Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain ‘moderate’ until October 9. It may turn ‘poor’ or remain ‘moderate’ during the following six days, according to the report.
Temperature readings also remained higher than normal at several weather stations. Safdarjung, Delhi’s principal weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 36.8 degrees Celsius, which was 2.6 degrees above normal. Lodi Road recorded 35.8 degrees Celsius, 2.8 degrees above normal, while Ridge reached 35.8 degrees Celsius, 1.3 degrees above normal.
Ayanagar recorded a maximum of 35.6 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees above normal. Palam recorded 34 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees below normal. Safdarjung’s minimum temperature was 25.2 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degrees above normal, while Lodi Road recorded 24.1 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees above normal.
No rainfall was recorded at the weather stations during the day. The India Meteorological Department has forecast a minimum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 34 degrees Celsius for Wednesday, with partly cloudy skies.
