The month of October and November are becoming a synonym of air pollution in Delhi and NCR over the years. As soon as Monsoon came to an end, pollution has yet again picked a progressing tangent over the city.
Severe pollution levels have been prevailing over Delhi and NCR since October 28. Winds are still very light over the region.
The reason behind this air quality can be attributed to the northwesterly light winds commencing over Delhi during afternoon hours. These northwesterly winds are bringing along smoke from neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana. Also, since the winds are light, these are unable to evade the local pollutants already accumulating over Delhi.
As these pollutants are not able to escape or disperse due to light winds, severe air quality is persisting over the region.
Two weather factors might help in decreasing the pollution, either surface winds should increase or there must be good rainfall activities over Northern Plains including Delhi and NCR which will help wash away the pollutants.
In the present scenario, we do not expect any significant increase in wind speed until November 2. By November 3, moderate northwesterly winds are expected to prevail which will disperse the pollutants such as smoke and dust particles from Delhi and NCR and there may be some relief. But during that time also pollution will remain in ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ category. Isolated pockets might see a little better air in ‘Moderate’ category. Apart from this, the chances of rain are very less, thus the second scenario is ruled out and no relief is likely.
Moreover, Delhi government is soon looking to shut down schools as the air continues to deteriorate.
Image Credits – ABP Live
Any information taken from here should be credited to Skymet Weather