Delhi’s air quality deteriorates; min temp three notches above normal at 13.2°C

A 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 297 (poor) was recorded at 9am on Wednesday, up from 272 (poor) at 4pm on Tuesday

Published on: Feb 11, 2026, 10:20:55 IST

By Jasjeev Gandhiok

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Delhi’s air quality deteriorated on Wednesday as wind speeds dipped, and the minimum temperature was three notches above normal at 13.2°C. The minimum temperature was likely to stay between 11 and 13°C until Friday.

On Tuesday, the mercury rose five degrees above normal to 28.6°C. (HT PHOTO)

On Tuesday, the mercury rose five degrees above normal to 28.6°C. It is likely to hover between 25 and 28°C for next two days.

A 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 297 (poor) was recorded at 9am on Wednesday, up from 272 (poor) at 4pm on Tuesday, 249 (poor) on Monday, and 189 (moderate) on Sunday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said three feeble western disturbances will impact northwest India in quick succession. The first began to impact the western Himalayan region on Tuesday.

“The second one is expected around February 13 [Friday], and the next one around February 16-17 [Monday and Tuesday]. Isolated to scattered rain or snow is likely over the western Himalayan region,” said an IMD official.

A minimal impact of the western disturbances was likely in the plains. Partially cloudy skies and winds of 15-20 km per hour are expected to aid in the dispersion of pollutants and prevent deterioration in air quality.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi said the AQI is likely to stay in the poor range until at least Friday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jasjeev Gandhiok
Jasjeev Gandhiok is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times, where he covers environment, climate change, the clean energy transition and wildlife at the National Bureau. Gandhiok has over a decade of experience in journalism and is based in Delhi. He has reported extensively on Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes the region's air pollution woes, a polluted Yamuna and on urban wildlife still thriving in the region. He joined HT in October 2021. Prior to that, he had five-year stint at The Times of India in Delhi, where he also covered Delhi, with a focus on environment and wildlife. Gandhiok has covered some recent events around the Capital too, ranging from the farmers' protests, the northeast Delhi riots and the CAA-NRC protests, reporting from the ground on all of these. He also travels across the country to report on how environment and climate change impact everyday life, while also writing on endangered species. His reports in 2019 on toxic leachate from Delhi's landfills led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking suo motu cognisance and ultimately asking the state government to start bio-mining to flatten and remove all three landfills in the capital. He also closely tracks the implementation of government policies on climate, renewable energy and environmental protection. His focus remains on impactful, public-interest journalism which explains how environmental decisions affect people's everyday lives.Read More

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