Delhi AQI touches ‘very poor’ for first time after Feb

Delhi's air quality dropped to 'very poor' due to dust from Rajasthan, with high temperatures expected before rain brings relief later this week.

Amid dust intrusion from Rajasthan since Sunday night, Delhi’s air quality nosedived and briefly touched the ‘very poor’ category in the early hours of Tuesday -- the first time since February this year. Though improving marginally during the day, it was still ‘poor’ in the evening, as Delhi continued to sizzle under high heat.

Delhi AQI touches ‘very poor’ for first time after Feb

A haze was visible in the city till Monday night, with PM 10 levels spiking. Delhi’s average air quality index (AQI) was 304 (very poor) at 9 am on Tuesday, but by 4 pm, when the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) releases its daily air bulletin -- had dipped 254 (poor). It was 252 (poor) at the same time on Monday. The last time Delhi’s AQI was ‘very poor’ -- over 300, was on February 11, when it was 305.

“Slow moving dust reached Delhi late on Sunday night from Rajasthan and it stayed over Delhi till Monday night and even in the early hours of Tuesday. This led to a spike in PM 10 levels and subsequently the AQI,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet, stating while the impact of this spell was over, dry dust-raising winds locally will still continue.

The IMD has a yellow alert in place for Wednesday, forecasting possible heatwave conditions as the maximum oscillates between 44-46°C. However, a western disturbance is expected to start influencing northwest India, with a yellow alert for light rain and gusty winds in place for both Thursday and Friday. “The maximum will start dipping from Thursday onwards. Peak impact over Delhi-NCR is likely from Friday, with the maximum to be under 40°C till Sunday,” said an IMD official.

So far this season, the city has seen two spells of heatwaves. Parts of Delhi reeled under three consecutive heatwave days from April 23 to 25. However, Safdarjung saw one heatwave day on April 25 when the mercury climbed to 42.8°C. Some areas in Delhi then recorded a four-day streak of heatwave conditions from May 18 to 21. However, Safdarjung recorded just one such day on May 19 when it touched 45.1°C there.

The minimum temperature on Tuesday stood at 26.8°C, which is near normal for this time of the year. This is forecast to hover between 27-29°C on Wednesday and between 28-30°C on Thursday.