The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted a gradual drop in minimum temperatures by 2-3°C in the coming week. A western disturbance is anticipated to bring cold winds from the Himalayas, potentially resulting in snowfall in the higher regions of Himachal Pradesh and rain in lower areas.
An IMD official stated, “A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from December 11. This development will bring in cold winds from the Himalayas, which may lead to a drop in the minimum temperature by two degrees.”
On Friday, Noida recorded a maximum temperature of 25.1 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 10.2 degrees, while Ghaziabad reported temperatures of 23.7 and 13 degrees, respectively. Isolated pockets in Noida and Greater Noida are expected to experience dense fog on Saturday morning.
The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) bulletin mentioned that the predominant surface wind in Delhi-NCR is expected to be from northwest directions with a speed of 8-15 kmph. Although fog is anticipated on Saturday morning, a mostly clear sky is expected later in the day.
No rainfall is forecasted in the upcoming days. The air quality in Noida and Ghaziabad improved marginally on Friday, remaining in the ‘poor’ category, while Greater Noida experienced a slight deterioration.
SAFAR predicts that the air quality is likely to remain in the ‘poor’ category on Saturday as well. Delhi’s air quality marginally deteriorated within the ‘very poor’ category on Friday, with an average AQI of 324.
According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the AQI is expected to improve from Saturday due to better wind speeds, remaining in the ‘poor’ category. The next six days may witness AQI ranging from ‘very poor’ to ‘poor.’