Delhi AQI Stays 'Poor', Smog and Fog Predicted Until January 25

Delhi witnessed light rain on the night of January 22, offering a brief respite from the deteriorating air quality. However, air quality continued to remain "poor", with the Air Quality Index (AQI) registering at 262 at 5.30 a.m. on January 23, according to Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi. 

Delhi's AQI has stayed in the 'poor' category for the third consecutive day this week. On January 22, it was recorded at 260 at 4 p.m., as per the bulletin issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Read More: Delhi Records Warmest January at 26.1 Degrees Celsius, 'Very Poor' Air Quality Persists

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light rain for January 23, with temperatures expected to range between 12 degrees Celsius and 22 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, fog disrupted several flights at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on January 22 causing delays, reported ANI.

The Delhi Airport issued an advisory on X at 8:30 a.m., advising passengers to contact their airlines for updated information, as "low visibility procedures" were implemented during the early morning hours.

Forecast for the Next 8 Days

AQEWS' latest bulletin also said that there has been a fall in minimum temperature of up to 1 degrees Celsius over the Delhi-NCR region in the past 24 hours. Smog and fog conditions are likely to continue as well.

Citing a ventilation index less than 6,000 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 dispersion of pollutants".

AQEWS' latest bulletin indicated that Delhi's ventilation index, which measures the atmosphere's potential to disperse air, is predicted to be 3000 m²/s today, 7000 m²/s tomorrow and 6200 m²/s the day after.

Forecast for January 23: Wind speed is expected to less than 6 kmph till evening. Thereafter, it is expected to dip to 8-10 kmph during the afternoon and dipping to less than 6 kmph during the evening and night. The AQEWS has also forecast smog and shallow fog conditions during the evening and night.

Forecast for January 24: Wind speed is expected to less than 6 kmph during the morning. Thereafter, it is expected to climb to 12-14 kmph during the afternoon, and dipping to less than 8 kmph during the evening and night. The AQEWS has also forecast smog and shallow fog conditions during the evening and night.

Forecast for January 25: Wind speed is likely to be less than less than 6 kmph during the morning, improving to 12-14 kmph during the afternoon hours, and dipping to less than 8 kmph during the evening and night. Smog and fog conditions are predicted during the evening and night. Possibility of very light rain is expected towards evening and night.

AQEWS, which is a real-time monitoring system tracking air quality and visibility levels, also said that Delhi's air quality is projected to be ‘poor’ until January 25. Thereafter, from January 26 onwards, Delhi's AQI is expected to be in the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ category for the next six days.