Delhi Likely To Get Light Rain Today, AQI Remains 'Severe' In Multiple Pockets

The Air Quality Index (AQI) readings at various stations across the city indicated the quality of air was 'severe' and 'very poor' in several areas.

Delhiites on Tuesday woke up to a minimum temperature of 8.3 degrees Celsius, marking a deviation of two notches below the seasonal average, reported the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather forecast from the department indicates a "generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle" throughout the day.

Air quality measurements at various Air Quality Index (AQI) stations across the city indicated levels classified as 'severe' and 'very poor', reported news agency IANS. According to the IMD, the maximum temperature is expected to remain around 24°C.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's Anand Vihar area reported PM2.5 levels at 420 at 9 AM, a condition marked as 'severe'. The PM10 level reached 406.

The AQI scale categorizes air quality from zero to 500, where readings between zero and 50 are deemed 'good,' 51 to 100 are 'satisfactory,' 101 to 200 are 'moderate,' 201 to 300 are 'poor,' 301 to 400 are 'very poor,' and 401 to 500 are classified as 'severe.'

At the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport (T3), PM2.5 level was recorded at 383. This marked the AQI category at the airport  'very poor'. The PM10 level stood at 266, indicating a 'poor' air quality classification. In Dwarka Sector 8, PM2.5 levels were reported at 385.

The IMD has forecast isolated and scattered light to moderate rainfall along with isolated thunderstorms and lightning activity over East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand on Tuesday and over the next two days as well. The Vidarbha region, adjoining Madhya Pradesh, in western Maharashtra is also likely to receive light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday as are Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim till Thursday.
Light to moderate isolated rainfall is also likely over Odisha on Wednesday and Thursday; southwest and southeast Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The IMD in its daily bulletin further said that northwest India is likely to see a gradual rise in the minimum temperatures by 2°C-4°C over the next 4-5 days. "A gradual rise in minimum temperatures is also very likely over many parts of east India during next 24 hours and no significant change thereafter," the IMD stated.