Dense smog and fog covered significant parts of Delhi on Saturday, reducing visibility and disrupting daily life. Landmarks like Rashtrapati Bhawan and India Gate were obscured by thick haze, impacting travel with traffic slowdowns and disruptions. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 235, falling in the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ category, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) accessed through the SAMEER app.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Delhi-NCR, warning of dense fog during the early hours of Saturday. The region’s minimum temperature is expected to be between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius, a drop from the previous day. The maximum temperature is forecasted to be around 18 degrees Celsius, with foggy conditions persisting in the morning.
IMD also cautioned about a cold wave affecting isolated areas of Delhi from January 3 to January 6, with temperatures falling significantly below the seasonal average. Similar conditions are anticipated in parts of Haryana during this period. Despite the persistent haze, there has been a slight improvement in air quality compared to earlier in the week.
Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI on Friday was 236, showing improvement from the ‘very poor’ category. Weather officials attributed this improvement to changes in wind patterns and temperature. The city experienced a maximum temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, slightly below normal, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 9.1 degrees Celsius, above the seasonal average.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’ as per CPCB standards, while readings between 301 and 400 fall under ‘very poor’. The Air Quality Early Warning System has alerted that air quality may deteriorate further to ‘very poor’ between January 4 and January 5, depending on weather conditions. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and advising caution as winter conditions intensify in the region.
