Delhi has seen some improvement in the pollution levels today wherein today morning the over Air Quality Index of Delhi was recorded at 218. The PM 10 levels in most parts of Delhi are in a moderate category while the PM 2.5 is in poor zone. Despite the change in wind direction to westerlies/north westerlies, pollution levels have decreased as the wind speed remained moderate in the range of 15-20 kmph.
This has helped in the dispersion of pollutants. Now as per the forecasters, north westerlies will continue over the Northwest Plains including Delhi and NCR and the wind speed will be in the moderate zone.
By the evening of October 23 or the morning of October 24, there is a probability of a reversal in wind direction wherein the wind will change their course and it will be from the east direction. Thus, the easterlies will start blowing over the Indo-Gangetic Plains including Delhi and NCR.
Thus, the smoke particles from the stubble burning over Punjab and Haryana will not be able to travel towards Delhi as the wind will be traveling from the opposite direction.
These easterlies are expected to continue until October 27. Hence, we do not expect much increase in the pollution levels until Diwali.
Soon after Diwali, the wind speed will decrease, and the direction will be also variable. Hence, the local pollutants, stubble burning as well as the smoke from the Diwali crackers will increase the pollution and it might fall in the poor zone.
Image Credits – Quartz
Any information taken from here should be credited to Skymet Weather
