New Delhi, Oct. 27 -- A chilly morning greeted Delhiites on Tuesday as the capital recorded its coldest October morning in three years, with the minimum temperature settling at 15.3 degrees Celsius, while the city's air quality edged closer to the 'poor' category, with the AQI reaching 197 at 4 pm. The minimum temperature at the Safdarjung weather station was 1.9 degrees below normal.

The city last recorded a lower minimum temperature on October 27, 2023, when it settled at 15.2 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature at Safdarjung also fell by 0.9 degrees over the past 24 hours. According to the India Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature at Safdarjung was 31.5 degrees Celsius, 0.3 degrees below normal.

Delhi's air quality stood in the 'moderate' category, with the 24-hour average AQI recorded at 197 at 4 pm on Tuesday, nearing the 'poor' mark. The AQI later deteriorated to the 'poor' category, reaching 218 by 7 pm. The city recorded an AQI of 174 on Monday and 153 on Sunday, according to the CPCB.

According to CPCB standards, an AQI of zero to 50 is classified as 'good', 51 to 100 as 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 as 'moderate', 201 to 300 as 'poor', 301 to 400 as 'very poor', and 401 to 500 as 'severe'. Of the 55 air quality monitoring stations in the city, 27 recorded 'poor' air quality, while Ghogha recorded satisfactory

air quality. The remaining stations recorded 'moderate' air quality. Jahangirpuri recorded the highest AQI at 280.

Among weather stations, Palam recorded a maximum temperature of 29.9 degrees Celsius, 2.2 degrees below normal, while its minimum temperature settled at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees below normal.

Lodi Road recorded a maximum temperature of 31.2 degrees Celsius, 0.8 degrees below normal, and a minimum of 15.6 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees below normal. The Ridge

recorded a maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees below normal, and a minimum of 16.2 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees below normal.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.