Delhi Climate & Pollution More Hazardous In Coming Days; Mizoram, Assam Facing Major Threat

The cold northwesterly winds will continue to blow over northern, central and western India on Friday. Cold wave conditions are likely over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Bihar. 

Many regions across these states except Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are likely to have ground frost conditions (soil surface temperature falling below the freezing point of 0°C). 

However, a cyclonic circulation over northeastern India may bring scattered snow and rain over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim on Friday. Thunderstorms and hail are likely over Meghalaya and dense fog is likely over Sikkim. 

A trough (relatively low-pressure area) over southern India brings rain and thunderstorms over Kerala and isolated rain over Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu today. 

Air Quality on Friday: 

Dry weather is forecast in northern, central, western, eastern and northeastern India. Air quality will be poor or very poor especially around Delhi and major cities in northern, central, eastern, western and southern India. The air quality of especially, Delhi will be hazardous or unhealthy on Friday with high PM 2.5 index throughout the city. 

Air Quality on Saturday & Beyond: 

As the cold northwesterly winds continue to blow, the cold wave will reach east coast on Saturday. The cold wave conditions are likely to continue over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand.  

Ground frost conditions are likely over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan on Saturday. The cold wave is likely to persist through the beginning of next week. 

Isolated rain is possible over Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala on Saturday due to the trough prevailing over the region. 

Dense fog is likely over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim on Saturday. 

Dry weather is forecast across central, eastern and western India until Tuesday. Air quality will be poor or very poor especially major cities in northern, central, western and eastern India. Wind speeds across India are forecast to be under gentle breeze over northern and central India.

Hence, poor or very poor air quality conditions may persist until Tuesday.