Strong winds sweeping across the national capital provided a much-needed respite from toxic air on Monday, pulling Delhi's air quality out of the 'very poor' range and into the 'poor' category. There is further hope on the horizon, with official forecasts indicating the Air Quality Index (AQI) could enter the 'moderate' zone on Tuesday.
Winds Bring Relief, But For How Long?
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that wind speeds reached around 15 kilometres per hour during Monday afternoon, with consistent south-westerly winds. This natural ventilation played a crucial role in dispersing the accumulated pollutants over the city.
As a result, the AQI reading at 4 pm on Monday was recorded at 244, which falls in the 'poor' category. This marks a significant improvement from the reading of 307 ('very poor') recorded at the same time on Sunday.
Short-Lived Respite Predicted
The government's air quality early warning system (EWS) has forecast that the AQI is likely to be in the moderate category on January 6 (Tuesday). However, this cleaner air episode may be brief.
The same EWS forecast warns that the air quality is expected to dip back into the 'poor' range on January 7 and 8 (Wednesday and Thursday). The outlook for the coming six days indicates that the air quality will remain in the 'poor to very poor' category.
Weather Conditions and Temperature Outlook
On the weather front, Delhi experienced mist on Monday, with no fog reported. The IMD stated that the lowest visibility was 1,600 metres at Safdarjung and 1,500 metres at Palam.
The minimum temperature dipped to 6.6 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than Sunday's 7.4 degrees. The maximum temperature settled at 18 degrees Celsius, which is a notch below the seasonal normal. Sunday's maximum was 17.3 degrees.
Looking ahead, the IMD forecast suggests that both minimum and maximum temperatures will be near normal over Delhi. The EWS provided a detailed wind forecast for Tuesday: Predominant surface winds are likely from the northwest, with speeds reaching up to 15 kmph in the morning. The wind speed is then expected to increase to up to 22 kmph from the northwest in the afternoon, before decreasing to less than 12 kmph in the evening and night.
For Tuesday, the maximum temperature may hover between 18 to 20 degrees Celsius, while the minimum could range from 6 to 8 degrees Celsius.
