Delhi recorded “severe” air quality for the third consecutive day on Monday, as moderate fog continued to blanket the city and the minimum temperature rose slightly to 7.7°C, close to seasonal norms. The Early Warning System for Delhi forecasted that the air quality index (AQI) could dip below 400 later in the day, entering the “very poor” category, which is expected to persist at least until Wednesday.

At 8 am on Monday, the 24-hour average AQI stood at 418, slightly lower than Sunday’s 440, marking a joint record for January’s second half. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that 25 of the 39 active ambient air quality monitoring stations recorded “severe” levels, with Wazirpur at 473 and Vivek Vihar at 472. Anand Vihar had peaked at 497 on Sunday, just three points below the maximum AQI of 500.

The city’s maximum temperature on Monday was expected to reach 24–26°C, while Sunday’s high of 22.7°C was already three degrees above normal. Forecasters predicted no “cold day” conditions until at least Saturday. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had already triggered Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) on Saturday as the AQI surpassed 400 for the first time this year.

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Weather experts noted that an active western disturbance is likely to bring rain to Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday and Thursday, with some areas potentially seeing moderate showers. This precipitation is expected to temporarily improve air quality and bring down minimum temperatures slightly.

Following this, another western disturbance is forecast around January 26, which may lead to a further dip in minimum temperatures to around 4–5°C. Meteorologists have suggested that the harshest part of winter is over, with Delhi last week recording a three-year low of 3°C.

Residents are advised to limit outdoor activities and use masks in heavily polluted areas, as prolonged exposure to “severe” AQI levels can significantly impact health, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.

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