Climate & Environment

Delhi Sees Above‑Normal Heat and Moderate Air Quality Amid One Very Poor Reading

By Team MP

New Delhi – Delhi experienced above‑normal maximum and minimum temperatures on Tuesday, while the average air‑quality index (AQI) was 179, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. One station recorded a ‘very poor’ AQI above 300. Across 44 monitoring stations, the Dwarka Sector 8 station logged an AQI of 305, the highest in the city, and 11 stations recorded ‘poor’ readings – Mundka and Narela registering the worst at 266 and 241, respectively – with the remaining 32 stations reporting ‘moderate’ air quality. The Dwarka Sector 8 station last recorded a ‘very poor’ reading on May 25, when its AQI was 322. The Central Pollution Control Board defines AQI ranges as 0‑50 ‘good’, 51‑100 ‘satisfactory’, 101‑200 ‘moderate’, 201‑300 ‘poor’, 301‑400 ‘very poor’, and 401‑500 ‘severe’. The Air Quality Early Warning System projects that air quality will stay ‘moderate’ until October 9, after which it may dip to ‘poor’ or remain ‘moderate’ for the next six days. Most weather stations in the city reported above‑normal maximum temperatures on Tuesday. Safdarjung recorded the highest maximum of 36.8 °C, 2.6 °C above normal, followed by Lodi Road and Ridge at 35.8 °C each, with deviations of 2.8 °C and 1.3 °C, respectively. Ayanagar reached 35.6 °C, 1.1 °C above normal, while Palam recorded 34 °C, 0.4 °C below normal. Minimum temperatures were also above normal: Safdarjung at 25.2 °C (2.9 °C above normal), Lodi Road at 24.1 °C (3.1 °C above normal), Palam and Ayanagar at 23.6 °C (1.3 °C and 1.6 °C above normal), and Ridge at 21.5 °C, one degree below normal. No rainfall was recorded at these stations during the day. The India Meteorological Department forecasts a minimum of 22 °C and a maximum of 34 °C for Wednesday, with partly cloudy skies.