DELHI NEWS : The decline in air quality has occurred just before the expected onset of the southwest monsoon on Tuesday. The IMD has issued a “yellow” alert for the day, forecasting widespread rainfall and thunderstorms, which may aid in reducing pollution levels in the capital.
After enjoying five straight days of relatively clean air, Delhi’s air quality worsened on Monday, slipping into the “moderate” category. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 112 at 4 p.m. This decline coincides with the anticipated arrival of the southwest monsoon. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a “yellow” alert for Tuesday, predicting widespread rainfall and thunderstorms, which could help alleviate pollution levels in the capital in the coming days.
Monday saw overcast skies and elevated humidity across Delhi, adding to the discomfort for residents. The relative humidity was recorded at 70% at 5:30 p.m. The city’s maximum temperature reached 36.2°C—2.4 degrees below the seasonal norm—while the minimum settled at 28.4°C. On Tuesday, the IMD forecasts the maximum temperature to be around 35°C and the minimum near 26°C.
an AQI between 0–50 is labeled “good,” 51–100 “satisfactory,” 101–200 “moderate,” 201–300 “poor,” 301–400 “very poor,” and 401–500 “severe.” Delhi had recorded “satisfactory” air quality over the previous five days, offering a temporary break from its usual pollution levels.
Monsoon Likely to Arrive Early in Delhi
The southwest monsoon is expected to reach Delhi on Tuesday, arriving a few days earlier than usual, conditions are favorable for the monsoon to advance into additional parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. Similarly, private weather agency Skymet has predicted monsoon onset in Delhi on June 24. Normally, the city sees the monsoon arrive around June 30, but if it begins as forecasted, it would be the earliest onset since 2013, when monsoon rains reached Delhi on June 16.