The air quality in the national capital, which is now in the bad category, would drastically improve from January 23, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), news agency ANI reported.
According to the IMD, there is a potential that the air quality in Delhi may improve in the next days since rain and strong wind speeds are forecast, which would wash off air pollutants and filter the air.
"Air quality in Delhi will significantly improve after January 23, as rain and high wind speed are expected in the coming days," Delhi IMD scientist Vijay Kumar Soni was quoted by ANI on its official Twitter handle.
Today's air quality has improved to poor, with a low temperature of 10.6°C recorded in Delhi. The lowest temperature measured was 3.6 degrees above average.
The spike in Delhi's nighttime temperatures was forecast to persist for the following six days as a result of two western disturbances in the mountainous region.
From today through January 26, a western disturbance will affect the western Himalayan area. The effect will be stronger than the last western disturbance and will strike northwest India's plains from January 23 to 25.
At 9 a.m., the hourly air quality index (AQI) was 266 according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Yesterday, the average 24-hour AQI in the extremely low range was 338.
Light to moderate rain and snowfall are expected throughout Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from January 20 to 22. Between January 23 and January 26, the intensity and dispersion are expected to increase.
From January 23 to January 26, light to moderate rainfall and thundershowers are expected throughout Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, north Rajasthan, and West Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier on Thursday, the Met office said that low temperatures in some portions of north Madhya Pradesh and isolated sections of Haryana and east Uttar Pradesh ranged from 2 to 5 degrees Celsius.
(With Inputs From ANI)