Light rainfall accompanied by a hailstorm on Tuesday evening brought some relief to the air quality in Noida and Ghaziabad, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) shifting back to the 'poor' category on Wednesday after deteriorating to 'very poor' the previous day. This meteorological event has temporarily alleviated the severe pollution levels, though challenges persist across the National Capital Region (NCR).
Air Quality Shows Mixed Trends Across NCR
On Wednesday, Noida recorded an AQI of 217, a significant improvement from Tuesday's 331, which had placed it in the 'very poor' range. Greater Noida witnessed an even more notable enhancement, with its AQI dropping to 189 from 304, moving into the 'moderate' category. In Ghaziabad, the AQI was measured at 234, down from 304 the day before, indicating a shift from 'very poor' to 'poor'.
Detailed Sector-Wise AQI Readings in Noida
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) portal, specific sectors in Noida displayed varied air quality levels. Sector 1 reported an AQI of 254, Sector 125 recorded 237, and Sector 116 had 212, all falling within the 'poor' range. In contrast, Sector 62 fared slightly better with an AQI of 166, categorized as 'moderate'. In Greater Noida, Knowledge Park V registered an AQI of 189, also in the 'moderate' bracket, while data from the Knowledge Park III station remained unavailable.
Ghaziabad's Air Quality Highlights Disparities
Ghaziabad presented a stark contrast in pollution levels across its localities. Loni recorded the worst AQI at 391, firmly in the 'very poor' category, highlighting ongoing environmental concerns. Indirapuram followed with an AQI of 268 and Vasundhara at 252, both in the 'poor' range. However, Sanjay Nagar emerged as a positive outlier, boasting the best air quality in the region with an AQI of 95, classified as 'satisfactory'.
IMD Issues Weather Alerts and Predictions
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted cold nights for Delhi-NCR, with minimum temperatures expected to dip to 6-9 degrees Celsius over the next two days. Parts of the city may experience dense fog on Thursday, prompting the IMD to issue a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog during morning hours. The department predicts that the minimum temperature might drop to between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, rise marginally to 7-9 degrees on Friday, and stabilize at 6-8 degrees on Saturday.
On Wednesday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 18.4 degrees Celsius, which is four notches below the normal range for this time of year. Visibility remained below 200 meters in the region during morning hours, exacerbating travel and health concerns.
Upcoming Weather Patterns and Disturbances
Looking ahead, the IMD anticipates cloudy skies from Saturday afternoon due to another western disturbance. This could bring very light rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds up to 40 kmph towards night. One or two spells of light rain are likely on Sunday, potentially impacting air quality and daily activities. Residents are advised to stay updated on weather advisories and take necessary precautions during this period of fluctuating conditions.
