Delhi’s air quality remained in the “very poor” category for the 13th consecutive day on Monday, as stagnant overnight winds hindered the dispersion of pollutants. By 8 pm, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in the capital climbed to 348, slightly surpassing Sunday’s 334. On Saturday, a similar “very poor” AQI reading of 352 had been recorded.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported fog early on Monday, reducing visibility to 800 meters at Safdarjung. Smog is expected to persist, especially during the night. Visibility below 1,000 meters is classified as fog, but when the relative humidity drops below 75%, it is termed smog.

Over the weekend, wind speeds saw a slight improvement, reaching around 10 km per hour, though they remained calm overnight on Monday, at 4 to 6 km per hour, with winds blowing from the east to southeast. An IMD official explained, “Calm winds at night contribute to the formation of fog and smog, with slight increases in speed during the day.”

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, two monitoring stations, Jahangirpuri and Bawana, reported AQI levels in the “severe” category, registering at 411 and 401, respectively. Delhi’s overall air quality has remained in the “very poor” range since October 30.