Delhi’s air quality remained in the “moderate” category for a seventh day on Tuesday even as the minimum temperature rose but was a degree below normal at 11.7°C compared to 10.7°C a day earlier. The minimum temperature was expected to rise further and likely to be between 14-16°C on Wednesday, making nights warmer.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said both maximum and minimum temperatures were expected to rise until Wednesday due to a western disturbance influencing the region. Scattered light rain was expected on Thursday and Friday.
The mercury was expected to go up to around 30°C by Wednesday. On Monday, the maximum temperature of 27.5°C was two degrees above normal. It was 26.1°C a day earlier.
An Air Quality Index (AQI) of 188 (moderate) was recorded at 9am on Tuesday. It was 186 (moderate) on Monday and prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR to lift Stage 2 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan.
An improvement in mixing height, ventilation, and favourable meteorological conditions have helped the dispersion of pollutants and improved the AQI. The AQI was expected to remain between “moderate” and the lower end of the “poor” zones.