The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has shared its forecast for the next few days, pegging the conditions as "unfavourable for the dispersion of pollutants"
The air quality in Delhi was recorded in the "very poor" category on December 26, with an air quality index (AQI) reading of 340 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) data. Of the 38 monitoring stations that recorded air quality data in the national capital, 32 reported the AQI in the "very poor" category, according to the CPCB.
The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi, in its bulletin dated December 26, predicted that the air quality in the national capital would be in the "poor category" tomorrow, "moderate" the day after and "poor" again on Sunday. According to AQEWS, AQI is expected to be in the "poor" to "very poor" category for the next six days.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor" and 401 and 500 "severe".
Citing a ventilation index of less than 6000 metre square per second (m2/s) and an average wind speed of less than 10 kilometre per hour (kmph) in the national capital, AQEWS has pegged the conditions as "unfavourable for the dispersion of pollutants".
Delhi's ventilation index, which measures the atmosphere's potential to disperse air, is predicted to be 500 m2/s today, 1500 m2/s tomorrow and 4000 m2/s the day after. On Sunday, the ventilation index is expected to be 2800 m2/s.
Forecast for December 26: Wind speed is expected to be less than 6 kmph till evening. Thereafter, it is expected to dip to less than 4 kmph. AQEWS has forecast smog and shallow fog during the evening and night, with the possibility of light rains.
Forecast for December 27: Wind speed is likely to be less than 4 kmph during the morning, improving slightly to 12 kmph during the afternoon hours, and settling back to 4 kmph during the evening and night. Smog and fog conditions are predicted throughout the day. Cold is likely to persist with predictions of cloud cover in isolated parts of the city. The city is also likely to experience light to moderate rain, thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds.
Forecast for December 28: Wind speed is expected to be less than 4 kmph during morning hours, 4-6 kmph in the afternoon and back to 4 kmph thereafter. Smog and fog conditions are likely to persist throughout the day. The city is expected to experience light to moderate rain and thunderstorm.
Forecast for December 29: Wind speed is likely to be less than 4 kmph during morning hours, 6-8 kmph in the afternoon and 4 kmph during the evening and night. The city would continue to experience smog and fog throughout the day but the sky is expected to be mainly clear.
(With inputs from PTI.)