New Delhi, Jan 3 (UNI) National capital’s Average Air Quality Index on Saturday continued to reel under the ‘poor’ category, recording a value of 267, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The average AQI, however witnessed a spike of 31 points on Saturday as compared to Friday, when it was 236, owing to the better wind speed that is said to have helped in dispersion of the particulate matter, bringing some relief to the people.
However, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has forecast that the city’s air quality may likely witness a dip, and slip into the ‘Very Poor’ zone between Sunday to Monday.
“The outlook for the subsequent 6 Days: The air quality is likely to be in the Very Poor category,” the Air Quality bulletin for Delhi released by the IITM said on Saturday.
Talking to UNI, a person who was visiting India Gate said that it felt better as compared to the past several days, when the air quality levels had reeled under the very poor category, which had made things worse amid the biting cold weather.
He added that for now things seem a little better, but was worried wondering till when the improvement would sustain.
Meanwhile, talking of Delhi’s weather, the weatherman has expressed the likelihood of the minimum temperature witnessing a fall of about 2°C during in the coming day, a slight rise by 1-2°C during next three days, and then a fall by 1-2°C thereafter.
“Consequently, minimum temperatures are likely to be normal (1.6 to 3.0°C) during the next two days, and above normal (1.6°C to 3.0°C) on January 6, and normal thereafter,” India Meteorological Department’s Regional Met Centre for Delhi said.
The weather agency said that moderate fog is likely at many places in the capital, with dense fog at isolated places on Sunday morning, and there will be shallow to moderate fog during morning hours thereafter.
The maximum temperature recorded on Saturday was 17.4 degrees C, while the minimum settled at 8.1 degrees C, which was a notch below the normal for the season.
IMD has forecast a mainly clear sky for Sunday, with moderate fog at many places, and dense fog at isolated places in the morning hours.
