After Delhi recorded the season’s coldest morning minimum temperature of 7.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday, three notches below the season’s average, its air quality index (AQI) fell to the ‘moderate’ category. for three days.
The city’s 24-hour average AQI was recorded at 233 at 4 pm on Saturday, down from Friday’s reading of 197. Winds were ‘moderate’ for the last three days due to continuous strong winds and hot sun.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, has forecast Delhi’s AQI to remain in the ‘poor’ category on Sunday and Monday and ‘very weak’ on Tuesday. Over the next six days it will fluctuate between ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’. A Western Disturbance continues, which is likely to bring rain to Delhi on Sunday.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), on Saturday, meanwhile, the maximum temperature was 25.4 degrees Celsius, which was one degree above normal. In its forecast, the IMD said that after a slight increase on Sunday, it will drop to 6 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
Last December 15th, the lowest minimum temperature was measured at 4.9 degrees Celsius.
The IMD considers a ‘cold day’ or ‘severe cold day’ when the maximum temperature is 4.5 degrees or below normal. Similarly, a ‘cold wave’ or ‘severe cold wave’ is recorded when the minimum temperature is 4.5 degrees or less below normal. In the last two years, there has not been any ‘cold wave’ in December. However, in 2020, seven ‘cold wave’ days were recorded in the month.
Many parts of northwest India saw a significant drop in minimum temperature on Saturday. The minimum temperature was recorded at 4.5 degrees in Hisar, 5.6 degrees in Churu and 6 degrees Celsius in Karnal and Patiala. Humidity levels range from 43 to 89 percent.
According to the IMD, cold wave conditions will prevail in some parts of northwest India after Monday. Light fog and moderate fog will be less likely on Sunday.