Today’s air in Mumbai is the worst since Diwali
Weather bureau has predicted a marginal drop in day temperature on Wednesday and Thursday, and rise in night temperature
After ‘poor’ air quality was recorded for the fifth consecutive day, pollutant-measuring indicator air quality index (AQI) increased to 268 (poor) on Tuesday making it the worst air day this year so far and worst since Diwali last year.
The city recorded an AQI of 263 (poor) last Friday and poor air quality has continued since. On January 15, the city had recorded an AQI of 253 (poor), during Christmas last year AQI was 258 but a day after Diwali in 2017, Mumbai’s AQI was 319 (very poor).
Researchers from the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said high pollution levels are expected to continue till Friday.
“Owing to the withdrawal of the western disturbance from northern India, moisture level in Mumbai’s air has increased significantly. When humidity increases, the moisture carrying capacity in the air allows pollutants to be trapped close to the surface for longer period. Calm winds combined with this phenomenon haven’t allowed pollutants to disperse, and deteriorated the air quality,” said Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR adding that an AQI of 269 (poor) has been predicted for Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the city woke up to a cloudy sky. The weather bureau has predicted a marginal drop in day temperature on Wednesday and Thursday, and rise in night temperature.
“Owing to withdrawal of western disturbances over northern India, westerly winds are bringing in moisture and leading to cloud formation,” said Ajay Kumar, scientist, Regional Meteorological Centre, India Meteorological Department. “Cloud cover will allow day temperature to drop but at night, it will trap the heat leading to a rise in temperature.”
The minimum temperature recorded on Tuesday morning was 2 degrees Celsius above normal. While Santacruz weather station recorded 19 degrees Celsius, temperature was 21.5 degrees Celsius at Colaba. Moisture levels were high in south Mumbai with 89% humidity, while 66% was recorded in the suburbs.