Delhi woke up to a hazy morning on Thursday, November 2, as thick smog enveloped the city, pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to 278, categorizing it as ‘poor’. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, pollution levels could decline further, potentially slipping into the ‘very poor’ category between November 6 and 8.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noted that the air quality observed this morning indicated concerning levels, with experts warning that the situation might worsen by evening due to low wind speeds and an accumulation of pollutants.
The Early Warning System predicts that wind speeds may gradually rise to 15 kmph from northwest during the afternoon, before slowing again to below 10 kmph by evening and night. The sky is expected to remain predominantly clear with persistent mist or haze.
According to CPCB classifications, an AQI of 0 to 50 is regarded as “good,” 51 to 100 as “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 as “moderate,” 201 to 300 as “poor,” 301 to 400 as “very poor,” and readings above 401 are classified as “severe.”
The minimum temperature recorded in Delhi settled at 12.7 degrees Celsius, which is 2.6 degrees below the seasonal average. Humidity stood at 75 percent as of 8:30 AM, and the maximum temperature is anticipated to reach around 29 degrees Celsius. The weather department also predicts mist and haze to persist throughout the day.
In light of the deteriorating air quality, health officials advise residents to limit outdoor activities, particularly during early morning and late evening hours, as dangerous pollution levels increase across the city.
