Delhi records second cleanest air after Diwali since 2015 due to favorable weather

Delhi's air quality has improved after Diwali, thanks to strong winds that helped clear smoke from the atmosphere. On Friday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) fell from 362 in the morning to 339 by 4 PM and further improved to 323 by 7 PM. This makes it the second cleanest post-Diwali air quality in Delhi since 2015. The winds, which reached speeds of 16 kilometers per hour, played a significant role in this improvement.

Despite the festive fireworks, which contributed to pollution, and increased stubble burning, the AQI remained in the “very poor” category rather than deteriorating to “severe.” This was due to favorable weather conditions, including higher temperatures that allowed pollutants to disperse more effectively. 

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Pollution trends and concerns

While Delhi's air quality saw a brief respite, pollution levels have been high overall this October. The share of stubble burning in the city’s PM2.5 levels rose sharply during the festival, accounting for nearly 28% of the pollution on Diwali. 

Experts from Skymet meteorology explained that the mixing height, which helps disperse pollutants, remained high at 2,100 meters. However, this could change as winter approaches, when colder temperatures typically trap pollutants closer to the ground. 

Though the air quality post-Diwali has improved, some areas still experienced hourly spikes in PM2.5 levels that exceeded national limits by over 30 times. Authorities and experts continue to monitor these trends as they impact public health and environmental quality.