Delhi-NCR: Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region are preparing for a spell of unsettled weather on Tuesday, as rain and thunderstorms are expected to move across the region. Weather officials have issued a yellow alert, advising residents to stay cautious as changing conditions coincide with a renewed rise in air pollution levels after a short-lived improvement.
Air quality in the capital deteriorated once more on Tuesday morning, reversing the gains recorded over the weekend. At 7.30 a.m., the overall Air Quality Index stood at 281, placing it firmly in the ‘poor’ category. The decline came shortly after residents experienced relatively cleaner air following light winter showers earlier in the week.
Several monitoring stations across the city reported particularly high pollution readings. Areas such as Rohini and Anand Vihar recorded AQI values nearing the ‘very poor’ range, while Bawana, Sonia Vihar, Chandni Chowk and parts of East Delhi also showed elevated levels. Other locations, including ITO, Patparganj, Dwarka Sector-8 and the North Campus area, continued to struggle with poor air quality, reflecting uneven but widespread pollution across the capital.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms for Tuesday, along with gusty winds that could reach speeds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour. In some areas, wind gusts may briefly touch 60 kilometres per hour. The department has also warned of the possibility of lightning and isolated hail, particularly during intense spells of rain.
These conditions follow a relatively cold start to the week. Republic Day morning saw low temperatures across the city, with the mercury gradually rising as the day progressed. Despite the daytime warmth, nights have remained cold, maintaining typical late-January winter conditions.
Delhi’s air had shown notable improvement after rainfall on Sunday, when the AQI dropped to 150 and entered the ‘moderate’ category. While the showers contributed to lower temperatures and damp conditions, they also helped suppress airborne pollutants, offering residents temporary relief from persistent smog.
However, the effect proved short-lived. As weather conditions stabilised and wind speeds eased, pollution levels climbed again, highlighting how dependent air quality remains on favourable meteorological factors during the winter months.
The Air Quality Index is used to communicate the level of health risk associated with polluted air. Readings between 0 and 50 are classified as ‘good’, while values from 51 to 100 fall under ‘satisfactory’. Levels ranging from 101 to 200 are considered ‘moderate’, followed by ‘poor’ from 201 to 300. Higher readings between 301 and 400 are labelled ‘very poor’, and anything above 400 is categorised as ‘severe’.
Health experts advise that prolonged exposure to poor or worse air quality can aggravate respiratory conditions, particularly among children, the elderly and those with existing health concerns.
Earlier this month, authorities overseeing air pollution control rolled back stricter emergency measures under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan. The decision, implemented on January 22, was based on improving air quality trends and weather forecasts that indicated better dispersion of pollutants.
Officials continue to monitor conditions closely, with the flexibility to reintroduce restrictions if pollution levels worsen significantly in the coming days.
Temperature readings on Monday reflected a familiar winter pattern for Delhi. While daytime temperatures rose steadily under clearer skies, nights remained sharply cold, creating a wide day-night variation. Meteorologists expect similar conditions to persist through the week, with weather fluctuations playing a key role in both comfort levels and pollution dispersion.
