Air Quality in Delhi reaches ‘severe’ category, stronger wind likely to bring respite tomorrow

The air quality in Delhi, which is already gasping for breath, continues to be in the 'severe' category as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital snooped at 425 on Friday.

The situation in adjoining Noida is even worse with the AQI at 540. Gurgaon isn't any better as the AQI in the city was recorded at 421.

#Delhi: Major pollutants PM 2.5 at 500 and PM 10 at 500 both in 'severe' category in Lodhi Road area, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data. pic.twitter.com/AfzXuDUxuH

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2019

According to data from SAFAR, the calm surface wind condition that prevailed for the last two days over Delhi has led to strong surface nocturnal inversion and accumulation of pollutants. 

Another significant contributor to Delhi's air pollution is stubble burning in the north-western states of the country. Data from SAFAR says that the effective stubble fire counts of Haryana & Punjab increased from Wednesday's count of 1057 to 2396 on Thursday, as evident from SAFAR-multi-satellite fire product. The stubble fire percentage contribution of Delhi's air quality, which has touched the season's highest share of 35% on October 30, is predicted to be 25% on Friday. 

The transport-level wind direction is forecasted to be northwesterly for the next two days and favourable for plume transport. 

A fresh Western Disturbance as a trough between 3.1 & 3.6 km above mean sea level ran roughly along the Afghan Pakisthan border as of Thursday, is expected to approach northwest India by November 2. It is likely to influence Delhi's air quality positively. An improvement to the lower end of the 'very poor' category is expected by Saturday.

Delhiites are likely to struggle with visibility as well as the current visibility in the capital is 600 metres.

Today's minimum temperature will be 17.2 degrees Celcius.