Mercury dips for the third day, AQI turns ‘very poor’ in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The mercury kept falling on Saturday, with the city recording the lowest minimum temperature of the season for the third consecutive day.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature was recorded at 6 degrees Celsius — two degrees below normal — the lowest minimum temperature in the season so far. The minimum temperature was 6.2 degrees Celsius on Friday, slightly lower than 6.4 degrees on Thursday.
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The maximum temperature on Saturday was recorded at 24.7 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal against 24.5 degrees Celsius recorded a day earlier.
According to the weather department, the dry and cold northwesterly winds will slow down, which may increase the minimum temperature over the next few days. No major change in the mercury is expected till December 25.
On Sunday, the maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 25 and 6 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Meanwhile, the air quality, which was in the ‘moderate’ category from Tuesday to Thursday and worsened to the poor level on Friday, deteriorated further to ‘very poor’ on Saturday. The Air quality index (AQI), on Saturday, was 303.
According to the pollution monitoring agencies, the air quality will deteriorate further due to the meteorological conditions that have become unsupportive for ventilation. “The air quality is likely to remain largely in the ‘very poor’ category. The predominant surface wind is likely to be coming from northwest directions with a wind speed 4 kmph during the daytime,” said a bulletin from early warning system.