Delhi’s Air Quality Improves to ‘Poor’ Category’s Lower End

Delhi’s air quality saw significant improvement, settling at the lower end of the “poor” category on Wednesday. Several monitoring stations recorded “moderate” pollution levels amid sunny skies and strong surface winds, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

An average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 205 was recorded at 9 AM, marking the city’s cleanest day since October 15, when the AQI stood at 198. In comparison, AQI levels were 268 and 280 at the same time on Tuesday and Monday, respectively.

Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Meteorology at Skymet, attributed the improvement to surface winds reaching speeds of 15-20 km/hr. Similar conditions are expected to continue until Friday, potentially bringing further relief.

The IMD also reported no fog on Wednesday, with visibility at a minimum of 1200 meters. Temperatures remained above average, aiding pollutant dispersion. Tuesday’s maximum temperature was 28.2°C, three degrees above normal, with a forecast of around 27°C for Wednesday.

As of 9 AM Wednesday, none of the 39 air quality stations reported “severe” or “very poor” conditions. Sixteen stations recorded “moderate” AQI levels, with Shadipur showing the highest AQI at 283 and ITO the lowest at 152.

Last December, Delhi’s average AQI was 348, with three “severe” air days. A spike in pollution is typically expected in late December due to lower temperatures, weaker winds, and dense fog.