Noida's air quality remained firmly in the 'very poor' category for the third straight day on Thursday. Morning hours saw visibility plummet below 200 meters across the region, creating hazardous conditions for residents and commuters.
AQI Readings Show Slight Dip But Remain Hazardous
According to the latest data, Noida recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 344 on Thursday. This marked a slight improvement from Wednesday's reading of 388. Greater Noida also saw a minor decline, with its AQI shifting to 342 from 357 the previous day.
Neighboring Ghaziabad reported an AQI of 321, down from 342 on Wednesday. Delhi's air quality followed a similar trend, recording an AQI of 343 compared to 353 the day before.
Station-by-Station Breakdown Reveals Local Variations
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board portal showed all four air monitoring stations in Noida registered 'very poor' air quality. Sector 1 recorded the worst conditions with an AQI of 358. Other stations reported:
- Sector 125: AQI 348
- Sector 116: AQI 345
- Sector 62: AQI 325
In Greater Noida, Knowledge Park V station recorded an AQI of 342, maintaining the 'very poor' classification. Data from the Knowledge Park III station was unavailable on Thursday.
Ghaziabad presented a mixed picture. Loni recorded 'very poor' air with an AQI of 399. However, Sanjay Nagar (AQI 297) and Indirapuram (AQI 266) fell into the 'poor' category. Information from the Vasundhara station was not available.
Weather Conditions and Wind Patterns
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) reported specific weather patterns affecting the region. During afternoon hours, predominant surface winds came from the northwest direction, reaching speeds up to 20 kilometers per hour. These winds decreased significantly in the evening, dropping below 10 kmph.
Friday's Forecast Brings Little Relief
Friday's weather forecast offers minimal improvement for air quality conditions. The city will experience mainly clear skies with partly cloudy conditions developing towards evening. However, residents should prepare for:
- Cold wave conditions at isolated places
- Moderate fog at many locations
- Dense fog at isolated places during morning hours
Wind patterns are expected to shift on Friday. The predominant surface wind will likely come from the west direction. Wind speeds will reach up to 10 kmph during morning hours, increase to 15 kmph in the afternoon, then decrease again to 5 kmph during evening and night periods.
The persistent 'very poor' air quality, combined with reduced visibility and forecasted fog, continues to pose significant health risks and transportation challenges for residents across the National Capital Region.
