Delhi’s air quality remained “very poor” on Friday, even as the minimum temperature of 5.6°C was four degrees below normal and the season’s lowest for a second day.
Isolated cold wave conditions were expected to persist in parts of northwest India until December 5. (ANI)
Isolated cold wave conditions were expected to persist in parts of northwest India until December 5 due to cold northwesterly winds from snow-clad mountains to the plains.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
On Thursday, the mercury also dipped to 5.6°C and 6.4°C a day earlier. The minimum temperature of 5.7°C on December 1 was the coldest start to the month since at least 2011. By this time last year, the lowest minimum had been 8°C on November 26. In 2023, it was 9.5°C on November 29. In 2022, the lowest minimum temperature until December 5 was 7.6°C (December 5).
Private forecaster Skymet Weather vice president Mahesh Palawat said strong cold northwesterly winds are impacting the plains, including Delhi-National Capital Region. “These strong winds are also impacting AQI [Air Quality Index] to an extent, not letting it rise rapidly,” he said.
An AQI of 323 (very poor) was recorded at 8am on Friday, compared to 304 (very poor) at 4pm on Thursday. The AQI was expected to stay in the “very poor” range until at least December 7.
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.
Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.
Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.
Home/India News/Delhi’s air quality remains ‘very poor’; min temp 4 degrees below normal at 5.6°C
{{^htLoading}}
Advertisement
{{/htLoading}}
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
{{#usCountry}}{{/usCountry}}
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe
