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Delhi ends Sunday with AQI 184 as the month's coldest night yet sets in
The air stayed in the 'moderate' band through the day, while the minimum temperature fell to 18.6 degrees Celsius, the lowest of October so far.
Key points
- Delhi's air quality index was 184 at 6 pm on Sunday, in the 'moderate' category.
- The minimum temperature fell to 18.6 degrees Celsius, the lowest of the month.
- Monday is forecast to be mainly clear, with a high of about 32 degrees.
Delhi’s air quality index stood at 184 at 6 pm on Sunday, still in the ‘moderate’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app, as the capital recorded its coldest night of the month so far.
The evening reading was a few points better than the 189 logged at 9 am, but well above Saturday’s 4 pm average of 159. On the CPCB scale, an AQI of 101 to 200 is ‘moderate’ and 201 to 300 ‘poor’, so the city stayed within reach of the poorer band through the day.
A cooler night
The India Meteorological Department said the city’s minimum temperature fell to 18.6 degrees Celsius, the lowest of October and 0.2 degrees above the seasonal average. The Ridge was the coldest spot at 18.1 degrees, followed by Ayanagar at 18.2, Lodhi Road at 18.3 and Palam at 18.4.
The maximum settled at 31.7 degrees, 0.9 degrees below normal. Relative humidity was 63% at 6:30 pm.
What to expect on Monday
The IMD has forecast mainly clear skies on Monday, with the maximum around 32 degrees and the minimum around 19 degrees.
Falling night temperatures matter for the air as much as for comfort. Cooler, calmer nights trap pollutants closer to the ground, which is why Delhi’s air usually worsens as October goes on. The board’s next daily bulletin, due at 4 pm on Monday, will show whether the ‘moderate’ run holds.