‘Poor’ air likely today as westerly winds set to blow dust over Gurgaon

GURGAON/NEW DELHI: The air quality is likely to deteriorate on Tuesday due to high concentration of dust. Local dry westerly winds from Rajasthan are predicted to bring dust to the region, according to experts. The Central Pollution Control Board’s data shows that Gurgaon’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 172 (‘moderate’) on Monday.
It was 166 on Sunday. But it may turn poor on Tuesday due to dust storm, the experts said.
The Central Pollution Control Board’s data shows that Delhi’s overall AQI was 195 in the ‘moderate’ category on Monday. It had touched the ‘poor’ category on Sunday with an AQI of 217. According to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the air quality is likely to remain in the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday and Wednesday and may improve to the ‘moderate’ category on Thursday.
VK Soni, head, environment and research centre, India Meteorological Department, said, “Dust concentration is high and it is expected to increase in the next two days. As strong winds are blowing in the city, local dust raising is happening. Besides, since wind direction is north-westerly, dry winds from north west India will transport dust to Delhi.”
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature in city rose to 16.5 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature was recorded at 35.1 degrees — a notch above the normal, same as on Sunday.
According to the IMD, the maximum temperatures are very likely to rise gradually by 2-4 degrees Celsius during the next five day in the city. Strong surface winds with 20-30 kmph is likely over Haryana during the next three days, the IMD predicted.
According to the IMD’s forecast, it will be mostly clear skies on Tuesday with minimum and maximum temperature likely to hover around 18 and 37 degrees Celsius, respectively.
There was a slight rise in Delhi’s maximum temperature which was recorded at 34.9 degrees Celsius, the season’s normal, on Monday — the highest in the year so far, the weather department said, adding it is expected to reach around 38 degrees Celsius later this week.
On Sunday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 34.8 degrees Celsius — the second highest in the year so far. The minimum temperature on Monday was 15.7 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal against 15.4 degrees Celsius a day earlier.
According to weather analysts, the daytime temperature has remained below normal but it may see a gradual rise and weather conditions are likely to get drier and warmer.
At 37.2 degrees Celsius, the sports complex near Akshardham was the warmest area in Delhi. According to the weather department, the maximum and minimum temperatures on Tuesday may hover around 36 and 16 degrees Celsius, respectively.
“The temperature will see a gradual increase and it may reach 38 to 39 degrees Celsius in a week. Since there was rain over a large part of India in the initial days of the month, the temperatures did not rise drastically. Now that the rain has stopped, the region may see dry weather along with a gradual rise in temperature,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice chairman, meteorology and climate change, Skymet.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), April recorded has witnessed rain on three days so far while the maximum temperature has remained below normal. Last year, April had only one day of scattered rain while there were nine days of heatwave conditions, which occurs when the maximum temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius and is at least 4.5 notches above normal. In April last year, there was the highest number of heatwaves since 2011. However, this year, the weather due to scattered rain was comparatively pleasant, officials said.