Delhi Weather Update: Temperature To Drop By 5°C This Week, IMD Issues Prediction

Delhi Weather Update: Delhi's weather is set to become more intense as temperatures are predicted to fall to 5 degrees Celsius soon. On Tuesday, the air quality improved slightly with an AQI of 296, categorised as poor. The weather department forecasts a drop in minimum temperatures starting Wednesday, reaching 5 degrees by Friday.

Weather Conditions and Visibility

The Safdarjung observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 16.2 degrees Celsius, which is 2.8 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was 10.5 degrees Celsius, exceeding the usual by 3.6 degrees. Relative humidity ranged from 87% to 92% throughout the day, according to the IMD.

Dense fog enveloped Delhi early in the morning, reducing visibility to just 150 metres and causing delays for 25 trains. "Minimum visibility of 150 metres in dense fog with northwesterly winds at 11-13 kmph was reported over Palam between 5 and 5:30 am, gradually improving to 700 metres in shallow fog with westerly winds at 13 kmph by 8:30 am," IMD said.

Air Quality and Pollution Levels

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noted that Delhi's AQI had been in the "very poor" category for the previous week. On Monday, it was recorded at a concerning level of 335. However, favourable weather conditions have led to some improvement in air quality.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted restrictions under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to better meteorological conditions and increased wind speed. Yet, Stage 1 and Stage 2 restrictions remain enforced across Delhi-NCR.

Forecast and Precautions

The weather office predicts mainly clear skies with cold day conditions at isolated spots. Smog or moderate fog is expected in most areas, with dense fog likely in certain places during the morning hours.

An AQI reading between 0-50 is deemed 'good', while levels from 51-100 are 'satisfactory'. Readings from 101-200 are 'moderate', those from 201-300 are 'poor', while levels from 301-400 are 'very poor'. Anything between 401-500 is considered 'severe'.

As temperatures drop and air quality fluctuates, residents should take necessary precautions when venturing outdoors. Keeping informed about daily weather updates can help manage health risks associated with pollution and cold weather conditions.