Overcast skies and a lingering acrid smell cloaked Delhi on Monday, adding to the discomfort of residents as the sun remained hidden behind thick clouds.
Until 6 pm, no rainfall was recorded in the city. However, according to the data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi is likely to receive one or two spells of very light rain/drizzle on the evening of Monday and the morning of Tuesday.
Officials attributed the wet spell forecast to a fresh western disturbance impacting the Western Himalayan Region and adjoining northern plains of India.
Despite the hazy skies, the city’s air quality improved slightly with Air Quality Index readings on Monday dropping slightly from 315 on Sunday to 301 on Monday, while bordering on the ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data on Monday, particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10, was the major pollutant contributing to the city’s air pollution load.
In the past 24 hours, Delhi recorded predominant north-easterly surface winds, gradually climbing to 8 km per hour since Sunday, which continued till forenoon, dissipating the pollutants.
Meanwhile, the share of stubble burning in Delhi’s PM2.5 levels rose to 4.3 percent on Monday — more than double Sunday’s 1.9 percent — according to data from the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management. This marks the highest contribution of the season so far, surpassing the previous peak of 3.45 percent recorded on Friday.
Transport emissions remain among the top contributors after the other categories, accounting for nearly 14.24% of Delhi’s pollution on Saturday — a trend likely to continue in the coming days and rising further on Wednesday to nearly 20 per cent, the data showed.
The Early Warning System forecasts showed the AQI is likely to shift to the “poor” range from Tuesday until at least Friday. In the following six days, the values might oscillate between “poor” and “very poor”, the statement read.
Below normal temperatures were recorded on Monday, with a maximum temperature settling at 29.6°C, departing 2.3°C from normal, and a minimum rising to 17.3°C, higher than Sunday’s value of 15.8°C.