Delhi: Cold wave to have negative effect on air quality index

Delhi’s air quality was recorded in the ‘poor’ category on Monday and is expected to deteriorate slightly over the next three days, according to the authorities. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall air quality index (AQI) in the city was 267, which falls in the ‘poor’ category.

An AQI between 100 and 200 comes under ‘moderate’ category, 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, while that between 401 and 500 is ‘severe’. In the National Capital Region, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida also recorded ‘poor’ air quality, it said.

The overall PM2.5 level -- fine particulate matters in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers -- in Delhi was 123, while the PM10 level was 206, it said.

The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said current air quality of Delhi is in ‘poor’ category. “The moderate wind speed is preventing it to cross to next level (very poor). Cold wave conditions and moderate fog is likely to prevail for next two days. Hence, air quality is predicted to deteriorate slightly but will fluctuate between very poor to poor for next three days,” the SAFAR said. Cold wave conditions remained unabated in the city with the minimum temperature settling at 5.5 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season’s average. The maximum temperature was recorded at 18.9 degrees Celsius, also three notches below the normal, said a Met department official.

The humidity oscillated between 94 and 51 per cent. According to the Met office, cold wave conditions are likely at isolated pockets of the city.”There will be shallow fog in the morning. Gusty winds likely to prevail during the day and cold wave conditions likely to prevail at isolated pockets. “The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover at 19 and 5 degrees Celsius respectively,” the weatherman said.

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According to the Met office, cold wave conditions are likely at isolated pockets of the city. There will be shallow fog in the morning. Gusty winds likely to prevail, said the weatherman