Delhi: A crisp morning greeted residents of the national capital on Saturday as the mercury dipped to 9.2 degrees Celsius, marginally below the seasonal norm, data from the India Meteorological Department showed.
Despite the chilly start, the day is expected to turn relatively warmer. Forecasters have predicted clear skies, with the maximum temperature likely to climb to around 26.3 degrees Celsius — nearly three degrees above the usual average for this time of year. The shift indicates a sharp contrast between morning and afternoon conditions.
Humidity levels remained high in the early hours, touching 95 per cent at 8:30 am, adding a layer of dampness to the cold air and intensifying the winter feel across several parts of the city.
Air quality, however, continued to remain a concern. At 9 am, the Air Quality Index stood at 211, placing it in the ‘poor’ category, according to figures released by the Central Pollution Control Board. An AQI reading between 201 and 300 is classified as ‘poor’, which may cause breathing discomfort to people with respiratory issues and prolonged exposure risks for the general population.
Under the CPCB’s scale, AQI values are categorised as ‘good’ (0–50), ‘satisfactory’ (51–100), ‘moderate’ (101–200), ‘poor’ (201–300), ‘very poor’ (301–400), and ‘severe’ (401–500).
While the sky is expected to stay clear through the day, authorities continue to monitor pollution levels closely as fluctuations in wind speed and temperature play a crucial role in determining the city’s air quality in the coming days.
