AQI in moderate zone for second day

New Delhi: Delhi's air quality remained in the moderate zone for a second day straight as strong surface winds of up to 30km/hr persisted in the region on Friday.
The city's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 131 (moderate) at 4pm on Friday, the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) daily national bulletin said.
It was 134 (moderate) a day earlier at the same time. Forecasts show that strong winds are expected to persist on Saturday, keeping the AQI in the moderate range. A drop in wind speed is expected on Sunday that could push the AQI to poor scores.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also said that a western disturbance was likely to influence the western Himalayan region from Feb 17 onwards, bringing very light rain to the city on both Feb 19 and 20. Thursday was Delhi's cleanest air day since last Oct 10, when the AQI was 132. Friday's marginal improvement made it Delhi's cleanest air day since Oct 7, when the AQI was 126. For Feb, Friday was its cleanest air day since Feb 28, 2022, when it was 92.
IITM's Early Warning System for Delhi (EWS) also states continued moderate air is unlikely in the coming days.
"Delhi's air quality is likely to be in the moderate category on Feb 15. The AQI is likely to be in the poor category from Feb 16 till Feb 17. The outlook for the subsequent six days shows AQI is likely to be between poor and moderate," said the EWS in its daily bulletin on Friday.