GURUGRAM: The city’s air quality improved to ‘poor’ on Wednesday after eight days. December started off with the air quality index (AQI) being recorded in the ‘very poor’ category that was recorded between 311 and 357.
The temperature also saw a dip with the minimum being recorded at 10.4 degrees Celsius and maximum at 28 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. However, IMD has predicted that the temperature may dip further over the weekend as NCR is likely to witness light spells of rain on December 11 and December 12. “City minimum temperature will drop to 7 degree Celsius by next week,” an IMD official said.
According to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the level of pollutants is likely to lower in the next 48 hours because of wind speed. “As it is expected to rain by Friday, the pollutants will be dispersed. The region is also witnessing movement in the atmosphere because of wind speed and thus the levels of pollutants are dipping,” said a senior HSPCB official.
Delhi’s air quality, meanwhile, remained in the very poor category with an overall AQI reading of 358 on Wednesday, a slight improvement from Tuesday’s 383 (very poor).
Delhi had recorded its first ‘dense’ fog spell on Monday when visibility fell to zero metres at Palam, while it was 300 at Safdarjung. Met officials say while snowfall may occur in the higher parts, Delhi is likely to record a drizzle on Friday night, as well as on Saturday during the day. “Very light to light rain could occur across Delhi. This will lead to a rise in the minimum temperature, but daytime temperature will drop,” said a Met official.
The maximum temperature was 29 degrees Celsius on Wednesday — five degrees above normal temperature, making it yet another warm December day this season. The minimum on Wednesday was 9.6 degrees, one degree above normal.
(With Delhi inputs)