With the maximum temperature settling at 34.4 degrees Celsius, Friday was the hottest day of the season so far in the national capital, while the air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category.
The maximum temperature remained seven degrees above normal and surpassed Thursday’s high of 34.3 degrees Celsius. The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 171 on Friday in the city.
On the minimum temperature front, Safdarjung recorded 17 degrees Celsius, 3.6 degrees above normal, while Lodhi Road recorded 16.3 degrees Celsius, 4.3 degrees above normal.
Ridge station recorded a minimum temperature of 17.8 degrees Celsius, while Ayanagar recorded a minimum temperature of 17.6 degrees Celsius.
Explaining the weather conditions, Mahesh Palawat, Vice President, Meteorology and Climate Change, said that no major weather activity is expected over Delhi and neighboring states like Punjab for at least the next 10 days.
“There are signs of clear skies and bright sunshine in the coming days, which may lead to a gradual rise in temperatures in the morning and evening. Wind speed is also likely to increase in the coming days,” Balwat said.
Station data showed that Ridge recorded the highest maximum temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius, 6.7 degrees above normal, followed by Lodi Road at 34 degrees Celsius, 7 degrees above normal.
Meanwhile, Palam recorded a maximum temperature of 32.5 degrees Celsius, 5.5 degrees above normal, and Ayanagar recorded 34.5 degrees Celsius, 7.4 degrees above normal.
The Meteorological Authority expected the weather on Saturday to be generally clear, with the maximum temperature reaching 35 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature reaching 17 degrees Celsius.
In terms of air quality, the city’s 24-hour average air quality index was 172.
The air quality index by station was not available on the SAMEER app of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) during evening hours.
According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.
Delhi’s air quality early warning system has forecast that the air quality is likely to fall into the ‘poor’ category tomorrow.
