Delhi-NCR Woke Up to a Hazy Morning: What Caused It?
Delhi-NCR Under a Thick Blanket of Haze
Delhi and its surrounding areas (NCR) woke up to a thick layer of haze on Thursday morning, with visibility dropping significantly in many places. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed this sudden change to a combination of strong winds and a surge in dust particles.
Sudden Winds and Dust Surge
According to the IMD, a cloud mass that moved in Wednesday night triggered strong, gusty winds of 30 to 40 kilometers per hour over the Palam area. These winds whipped up fine dust particles and sent them swirling into the lower atmosphere. Visibility plummeted from a clear 4,500 meters to a hazy 1,200 meters in just two hours, from 10 pm to 11:30 pm.
Hazy Night, Clearing Skies
Although the winds later calmed down to 3 to 7 kilometers per hour, the suspended dust lingered throughout the night, impacting air quality. Visibility remained poor at both Safdarjung and Palam airports, with dust still hanging in the air.
However, by dawn, a westerly breeze of around 10 kilometers per hour began to disperse the dust layer. Visibility gradually improved to 1,500 meters at Palam, and IMD officials predicted further improvement throughout the day.
Dust Origin and Movement
Senior IMD officials explained that the dust originated in North Pakistan and traveled through Punjab and Haryana before reaching Delhi and NCR on Wednesday night. They noted that this dust movement gradually shifted eastward, helping to clear the skies.
Air Quality and Weather Forecast
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology reported that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi at 8 am was 236, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. The forecast for the next two days predicted air quality to remain in the ‘moderate to poor’ range. By 10 am, the AQI had risen to 249, still in the ‘poor’ category.
The IMD has forecast strong surface winds for Delhi on Thursday and the weekend. However, a respite from the haze is expected on Friday with rain and thunderstorms predicted. The weather department has also issued a warning for dust storms or thunderstorm activity with gusty winds reaching up to 50 kilometers per hour in isolated areas of Haryana and Rajasthan.
On a positive note, the IMD has assured that no heatwave conditions are expected during the week.
