The air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) showed a marginal improvement on Sunday, shifting from the 'very poor' to the 'poor' category. However, residents continued to grapple with dense morning fog and the season's first intense cold wave, which saw temperatures plummet to near-freezing levels.
Air Quality Shows Marginal Relief
After two consecutive days of 'very poor' air, Noida's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) settled at 260, marking a notable drop from Saturday's 348. Similarly, Greater Noida recorded an AQI of 278, down from 338. In neighbouring Ghaziabad, the AQI was 283, improved from 351 a day earlier.
Delhi's air also saw a slight improvement, with the city's average AQI at 291 compared to 346 on Saturday, yet it firmly remained in the 'poor' category. Visibility in the early hours dropped below 600 meters due to dense fog, which cleared partially as the day progressed.
Localised AQI Variations Across NCR
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed significant local variations. In Noida, Sector 116 reported the worst air with an AQI of 293, followed by Sector 1 (291) and Sector 125 (287). The cleanest air in the city was found in Sector 62, which recorded a 'moderate' AQI of 170.
The situation in Greater Noida was mixed, with Knowledge Park V experiencing 'very poor' air (AQI 308), while Knowledge Park III was 'poor' at 249. In Ghaziabad, Loni (AQI 336) and Vasundhara (AQI 322) both suffered 'very poor' air quality, whereas Sanjay Nagar (256) and Indirapuram (218) were in the 'poor' range.
Cold Wave Tightens Grip, Records Broken
While air quality was a concern, the biting cold took centre stage on Sunday. The region shivered under the season's first official cold wave conditions, with isolated areas recording remarkably low temperatures.
Ayanagar recorded a minimum temperature of 2.9°C, while Palam logged 3°C and the Ridge station 3.7°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that Palam's 3°C was its lowest January minimum in 13 years, with the last colder reading of 2.6°C recorded on January 7, 2013. Safdarjung, Delhi's base weather station, recorded a minimum of 4.8°C, three degrees below the seasonal average.
Weather Forecast and Alerts
According to scientists at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), surface winds on Sunday blew from the north-west at speeds below 20 kmph in the afternoon, slowing to less than 10 kmph by evening.
The IMD has forecast that the cold wave conditions will persist until at least Wednesday. An orange alert has been issued for Monday and Tuesday, downgrading to a yellow alert for Wednesday. The minimum temperature is expected to hover between 2°C and 4°C on Monday, and between 3°C and 5°C on Tuesday and Wednesday.
While mainly clear skies and sunshine are predicted during the day, icy winds will keep maximum temperatures in check, ranging between 18°C and 20°C on Monday. Surface winds are likely to remain calm, blowing from the west at speeds below 10 kmph in the morning and dropping to less than 5 kmph by night.
