Delhi saw a brief improvement in air quality on Sunday, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) falling to the ‘moderate’ category at 189 by 4 pm, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This comes after three consecutive days of ‘poor’ air, with Saturday’s average AQI recorded at 227.
However, the respite is expected to be short-lived. The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) has forecast that air quality is likely to deteriorate again, slipping back into the ‘poor’ category in the coming days.
According to the AQEWS bulletin, Delhi’s air quality is expected to remain ‘poor’ from February 9 to 11, with similar conditions likely to persist over the next six days. Wind speeds are forecast to weaken, with northeasterly winds of up to 5 kmph expected after Monday evening.
Experts attributed Sunday’s temporary improvement to strong winds that helped disperse pollutants. “Over the past two to three days, strong westerly and northwesterly winds, reaching speeds of 30–35 kmph, aided the dispersion of pollutants,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Skymet Weather. “However, this improvement is temporary. A western disturbance is approaching Delhi and will influence wind patterns until February 11 or 12, reducing wind speeds.”
Weather conditions remained slightly warmer than usual. The minimum temperature on Sunday was recorded at 10.2°C, around 0.8°C above normal, while the maximum temperature stood at 24.4°C, about 1.1°C above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD added that maximum temperatures are likely to rise marginally over the coming week, touching 24–26°C by February 14.
“The maximum temperature had remained subdued due to cold winds from the Himalayas,” Palawat explained. “As these winds weaken, temperatures may rise. At times, induced cyclonic circulations also form over Punjab and Haryana, leading to changes in wind direction.”
