New Delhi: And the city of Delhi remains warm and dry, sunny, with slightly cooler mornings and nights and warm days. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) says there are no major changes this week. The light winds in the afternoon can help hold the heat in cheque to a certain extent, and foggy conditions are in the forecast for the early hours.
At the same time, the air quality in the capital has slightly improved. On Thursday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at an average of 300, down from previous days, but still within the “severe” category. Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, Rohini and Mundka all saw their pollution levels easing slightly with Anand Vihar’s AQI reading 282 this morning.
Impact of Cyclone Dana on Uttar Pradesh
While Delhi still has dry weather, Cyclone Dana, which cropped up in the Bay of Bengal and affects coastal Odisha, is expected to affect parts of Uttar Pradesh. In its forecast, IMD said that light rain accompanied with gusty winds was likely to occur in eastern and southern regions of UP from Thursday evening Friday. The influence of cyclone is likely to bring light showers to areas such as Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Varanasi and Prayagraj.
Structures have been prepared extensively to minimise the impact of Cyclone Dana, and the heaviest impact is expected to still lie in Odisha. The state was bracing for the storm’s landfall and had residents in coastal areas evacuated to safer locations.
Delhi’s Air Quality Improves Marginally
Winding down Thursday, parts of Delhi showed some slight improvement from the AQI, giving some relief to residents. But while the air remains hazardous, AQI in some places is over 300. Air pollution continues to be an issue in places like Bawana (313), Mundka (305) and Jahangirpuri (300). The air is still thick with pollutants and experts recommend limiting the amount of outdoor you do, but especially for vulnerable groups.
Winter Is Coming: Post Diwali, Expecting Light Chill
Light chill is expected during Diwali in Uttar Pradesh and weather conditions are starting to change. Speaking to Newsbytes, IMD forecasts light rainfall in part of the region from 24 to 25 October including in southeastern districts, including Ballia, Deoria, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra. Normal winter weather is expected as the cyclone passes, with early signs of winter appearing in northern India.
In Delhi expectations are that it will be dry until the end of October when western disturbances may bring rain or snow to the hilly areas. That could translate into a slow cooling off in the capital. IMD says daytime temperatures will fall in the first week of November, and by the end of November, they will be much colder.
Preparations Begin for Winter
With winter coming closer, many Delhiites have begun to get ready for the cold times to come. People are lining up to buy their warm clothes (blankets, quilts) as markets are beginning to see increasing sales. While fog is expected to blanket the city earlier than usual, it also seems that winter could be harsher this year. By the end of November, IMD has said the capital may see a cold wave, and heavy fog may grip the city in the coming weeks.