Delhi woke up to a hazy morning on Thursday as a thin layer of smog blanketed the city, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 278 — placing it in the ‘poor’ category. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, the situation is expected to worsen, with pollution levels likely to slip into the ‘very poor’ category between November 6 and 8.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that the national capital’s AQI stood at 278 this morning. Experts warn that the air quality could deteriorate further by evening due to low wind speeds and increased pollutant accumulation.
The Early Warning System forecast indicates that wind speed may gradually increase up to 15 kmph from the northwest direction during the afternoon before dropping below 10 kmph by evening and night. The sky is expected to remain mainly clear, with mist or haze likely to persist.
As per the CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good,” 51 to 100 “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 “moderate,” 201 to 300 “poor,” 301 to 400 “very poor,” and 401 to 500 “severe.”
The minimum temperature in Delhi settled at 12.7 degrees Celsius — 2.6 degrees below the seasonal average — while humidity stood at 75 per cent at 8:30 am. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 29 degrees Celsius, with the weather department forecasting mist and haze throughout the day.
Residents have been advised to limit outdoor activities, especially during early morning and late evening hours, as pollution levels remain concerning across the city.