Pollution to increase in Delhi, as temperature to drop from today: IMD.
Key sentence:
- The average temperature in Delhi on Sunday was six degrees below usual.
- Minimum temperature of the capital would drop from Monday IMD scientists stated.
- Data from the (CPCB) indicates that the total air quality index (AQI) throughout Delhi on Sunday recorded 364.
The average temperature in Delhi on Sunday was six degrees below usual, as the capital was shrouded by thick fog in the early morning hours of the day.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientists cautioned that the capital’s minimum temperature would drop from Monday. It was likely that the cold wave situations would return for the third time this winter.
As per the IMD reports:
According to the IMD, although the average temperature in Delhi’s official Safdarjung Observatory was 8.8 degrees Celsius, the maximum temperature was not much higher than the average for the season, which was six degrees under normal. At the observatory, the highest temperature reported was 15 °C.
In the earlier hours, of Sunday IMD scientists said that the lower maximum temperature might be due to the thick cover of haze over Delhi.
The regional weather forecasting centre head Kuldeep Srivastava stated:
Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the regional weather forecasting centre of IMD, also said Sunday felt cooler because throughout the day the fog rose higher above the surface in the morning.
This indicates that as the day progressed, but did not remove the fog layer closer to the ground in the morning grew higher. This stopped sunlight as well as did not allow the soil to get hot.
On Sunday, the angle of the wind also shifted to the northwest.
The minimum temperature may start to drop from Monday as well as there is a chance of cold wave-like situations later this week in several parts,” Srivastava said.
Further, Srivastava stated:
As per IMD, dense to quite dense fog decreased visibility over most Indo-Gangetic Plains on Sunday. This continued in many north-western states throughout the day, scientists added.
The humidity levels were 100 per cent during the morning hours, and cold north-westerly waves were blowing. A combination of the 2 led to the fog,’ Srivastava informed.
As per the data from CPCB:
In Delhi, the thick fog has also led the levels of pollution to increase. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicates that the total air quality index (AQI) throughout Delhi recorded 364, in the ‘very low’ area. The AQI reached 326 on Saturday.
The Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (Safar) Framework predict that pollution levels will continue to increase until 28 January.
