Delhi’s air quality hit the ‘severe’ category on Friday morning, deviating from earlier forecasts that predicted ‘very poor’ AQI. The deviation follows six consecutive days of ‘very poor’ air quality. The current AQI at 7:05 am on Friday stands at 401 (severe). Contrary to Thursday’s forecast by the Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, predicting ‘very poor’ AQI on Friday, it is now expected to be in the ‘severe’ category on Saturday and revert to ‘very poor’ on Sunday.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies AQI levels, with 51-100 as ‘satisfactory,’ 101-200 as ‘moderate,’ 201-300 as ‘poor,’ 301-400 as ‘very poor,’ and over 400 as ‘severe.’ Although Thursday’s AQI slightly improved from Wednesday, the 24-hour average AQI recorded at 4 pm was 390 (very poor), compared to 395 on Wednesday. November has seen eight ‘severe’ air days, nearing severe conditions on six other days, totaling 14 such instances with an AQI of 390 or higher – the highest for November in the last eight years.
Wind direction on Friday morning was southeasterly, expected to shift to easterly, and a western disturbance may bring light rain over Delhi on November 27. Minimum temperatures in Delhi are forecasted to remain low, around 10-11 degrees Celsius until the weekend, rising to 13 degrees by November 27. Thursday’s minimum temperature was 9.2 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal and the season’s lowest so far.
As Delhi grapples with deteriorating air quality and the ‘severe’ category AQI, the challenges persist, demanding sustained efforts and measures to mitigate pollution. The forecasted change in wind direction and potential rain bring a glimmer of hope, but long-term solutions remain imperative for addressing the recurrent air quality concerns in the region. Public awareness, collaborative initiatives, and policy implementations are crucial in the ongoing battle against air pollution.