Delhi AQI remains ‘poor' as national capital reels under cold wave | Check IMD winter forecast for other states
A cold wave is expected to affect isolated areas in Delhi until 6 January.
Delhi's air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category on Monday morning as the capital city reeled under a cold wave. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature ranged between 8.1°C and 9.1°C, about 4.5°C to 6.5°C below the seasonal average.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 266 at 7 AM on 5 January.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
A cold wave is expected to affect isolated places in the capital city till 6 January, according to the IMD.
The weather agency predicted mainly clear skies for Delhi, with shallow to moderate fog during the morning hours.
The maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are likely to be in the ranges of 17°C to 19°C and 7°C to 9°C, respectively. The minimum temperatures are expected to be above normal (0.1°C to 2.1°C), and the maximum temperatures are expected to be near normal over Delhi.
Check IMD winter forecast for other states here
The IMD has forecast light rain or snow at isolated places in the higher reaches of north and central Kashmir and in Himachal Pradesh on 5 and 6 January.
Isolated places in Uttarakhand are likely to receive rain or snow on 6 January, it added.
According to the Met Dept, Kashmir is currently in the midst of Chilla-e-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period, when temperatures at night often drop several degrees below the freezing point. The plains of the valley, however, have not received any snowfall so far this season.
A gradual fall in minimum temperatures by 2-4°Cis also likely over Central and East India during the next three days, with no significant change thereafter for the next four days, the weather agency said.
It has also predicted ground frost at isolated places in Uttarakhand on 5 and 6 January.
The IMD also predicted that minimum temperatures are likely to increase in Gujarat over the next five days. No significant change has been forecast in the minimum temperature over the remaining parts of India.
IMD Cold Wave & Fog alert
The weather agency had predicted cold wave conditions over isolated pockets in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh till 8 January. For West Rajasthan, these chilling conditions are likely to continue till 9 January, while East Rajasthan is expected to experience a cold wave till 10 January.
For Jharkhand, the IMD had forecasted cold wave conditions on 6 and 7 January.
It also issued a “dense to very dense” fog alert during night/morning hours at some places over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh till 7 January; over east Uttar Pradesh till 8 January; over Madhya Pradesh and Odisha till 6 January.