NEW DELHI: Delhi witnessed a significant drop in temperature on Friday, with the minimum temperature recorded at 8.5°C at 8.30am, signaling the onset of winter. The dip, nearly two degrees lower than the previous day, is attributed to cold northwesterly winds sweeping through the region.
A shallow fog enveloped the city in the morning, adding to the winter chill. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a further decline, with the minimum temperature expected to reach 6°C by December 10.
The national capital also saw an improvement in its air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) settling in the ‘moderate’ category at 183 as of 7 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
AQI levels across key areas
- Chandni Chowk: 183
- ITO: 183
- Punjabi Bagh: 212 (‘poor’)
- Anand Vihar: 246 (‘poor’)
- Mundka: 244 (‘poor’)
- Lodhi Road: 124 (‘moderate’)
- An AQI between 101-200 is categorized as ‘moderate,’ while 201-300 falls under ‘poor.’
Delhi’s air quality had been persistently in the ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ categories post-Diwali, causing health issues among residents.
However, the Supreme Court allowed the relaxation of GRAP stage IV restrictions to GRAP stage II on Thursday, citing the improvement.
Weather outlook
The IMD forecasts a gradual fall in minimum temperatures across Northwest India by 2-3°C over the week. Although there’s a low probability of cold wave conditions in regions like north Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana during the second half of the week, the passage of a western disturbance on December 9 might influence weather patterns.
