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Delhi Air Quality Hits 82-Day High Amidst Dry Spell
4 Oct
Summary
- Delhi's air quality reached 196, the highest in over 82 days.
- No rain is forecast for the next week, exacerbating pollution.
- Temperatures are expected to rise, with highs between 35-37°C.
Delhi experienced a significant decline in air quality on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 196 at 10 AM. This marks the highest AQI recorded in over 82 days, with 22 out of 43 monitoring stations reporting air quality in the 'poor' category.
Officials attribute the spike in pollution to a combination of factors including a lack of rain, low wind speeds, and localized emissions. The situation is expected to persist as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts no rain activity for the next week.
The city registered a minimum temperature of 24.1°C on Sunday. Looking ahead, maximum temperatures are predicted to hover between 35-37°C, with an amateur meteorologist noting that 'October heat is slowly taking over' and temperatures could spike to 37-40°C in parts of Delhi NCR and west Uttar Pradesh.
While mild western disturbances are anticipated from October 7th and moderate ones after October 10th, which could bring precipitation to North India, an immediate respite from the smog is unlikely. A minor dip in temperature is expected only after October 10th, possibly with isolated rains around October 7-8th.
