The air quality in Delhi stayed in the ‘poor’ category, with an AQI of 259 in the morning, as per the Central Pollution Control Board’s data. Various areas in the city reported high pollution levels, with some stations entering the ‘very poor’ zone. Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, and Bawana were among the areas with AQI readings in the upper ‘poor’ range.
Delhi’s overall air quality on Monday morning was also ‘poor,’ with an AQI of 218 at 8 a.m. Data indicated that 24 monitoring stations reported ‘poor’ air quality, while 12 stations recorded ‘moderate’ levels. Two stations even reached the ‘very poor’ category, highlighting pockets of significantly higher pollution in the city.
On Monday, Delhi experienced an unusually warm day with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius for the first time this season. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 31.6 degrees Celsius, significantly above the seasonal average. This marked the earliest instance in five years of temperatures crossing 30 degrees Celsius in February, with the last similar occurrence in 2021 on February 11.
Weather forecasts suggest that Tuesday will also be warm, with clear skies and bright sunshine expected to maintain the maximum temperature between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius. However, some relief may come on Wednesday as a fresh western disturbance is predicted to bring light rainfall and gusty winds up to 40 km per hour.
Delhi has seen a sharp increase in maximum temperatures over the past few days, rising from 25.4 degrees Celsius on February 12 to further increases thereafter. The AQI scale ranges from 0 to 500, categorizing air quality based on health impact, with ‘poor’ levels between 201 and 300 causing breathing discomfort for most individuals with prolonged exposure.
