The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported severe air pollution exacerbating the situation in the capital, where air quality has reached hazardous levels.
The weather across the country is witnessing a significant shift, with dense fog enveloping northwestern and northern states, particularly Delhi NCR. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported severe air pollution exacerbating the situation in the capital, where air quality has reached hazardous levels. On Thursday, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassed 400, with smog turning the city’s air into a gas chamber. Officials suggest that Grape-3 restrictions could be imposed to curb pollution.
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Low visibility continues to plague the northern plains due to the fog, with Palam Airport recording visibility levels between 300 and 700 meters on Thursday morning. Temperatures have also dipped in Delhi, with maximum temperatures ranging between 26°C and 28°C, and minimum temperatures fluctuating from 11°C to 17°C. The IMD noted that these readings are one to three degrees below normal.
Meanwhile, an orange alert for dense fog has been issued for Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and West Rajasthan, while a yellow alert has been placed for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, and Jharkhand. The IMD forecasts very dense fog during late nights and early mornings across several northern states.
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Western Disturbance to Bring Cold Weather
A western disturbance is impacting the northwestern part of the country. As it moves through, temperatures are expected to drop significantly in the snow-clad mountains and surrounding plains of North India. Cities like Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Karnal, and Ambala will experience minimum temperatures in single digits for the first time this season. Delhi’s minimum temperature may fall below 15°C between November 18 and 20.
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In southern India, cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu’s coast is likely to bring rain. Light to moderate rainfall is anticipated in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and coastal Andhra Pradesh, with heavy downpours in some areas. Southern Telangana, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep are also expected to see light to moderate showers, while northern Punjab will experience scattered light rain.
