The AQI of Delhi improves slightly but continues in a very poor class.

Key points:

1.  Delhi’s air quality, although showing a slight improvement on Thursday morning, continued to remain in the very poor category.
2. They cautioned that the AQI could even slip to the extreme zone on December 6 and December 7, scientists stated.
3. Whenever there is a difference in the level of wind, winds turn calm as well as pollutants are trapped.
4. In the next two days, the smallest temperature may go up and settle at 10-11 degrees Celsius.

Delhi’s air quality, although showing a slight improvement on Thursday morning, continued to remain in the very poor category. As per the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality index (AQI) was 345 at 7 am (CPCB). Wednesday’s maximum AQI was 373.

Deterioration Air quality from December 4: 

However, from December 4 onwards, government agencies have forecast a decline in air quality, since winds are going to turn calm. 

At the very same time, wind patterns are likely to shift from north-west to east, which can carry moisture that causes contaminants to collect close to the ground.

An AQI value of between 300 and 400 is considered very low on a scale of 0 to 500, and that beyond 400 is considered extreme.

As per the IMD: 

The weather is likely to remain in the very poor zone on Friday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), but from Saturday, wind speeds would slow down as well as air quality will deteriorate further.

They cautioned that the AQI could even slip to the extreme zone on December 6 and December 7, scientists stated.

As IMD senior scientist stated:

“The winds will slow down again from December 4. Our forecast indicates that air quality will be at its worst on December 6 and December 7, and is also likely to fall into the very low or extreme latter end,’ stated a senior IMD scientist.

He added that since the night of December 3, that will also have an effect on Delhi, the change in direction is related to a western disturbance which will affect Jammu and Kashmir as well as Himachal Pradesh. 

“Whenever there is a change in the level of wind, winds turn calm as well as pollutants are trapped,” he stated.

As per the IMD’s further reports: 

IMD also reported that on December 4 or 5, there is a prediction for shallow fog. In the next two days, the minimum temperature may go up and settle at 10-11 degrees Celsius.

A minimum temperature of 8.2 degrees Celsius, a point below average, was reported on Wednesday by the Safdarjung Observatory, which is regarded to be the official reading for the city’s weather. It reached a high of 26.7 degrees Celsius.