Delhi Pollution: Air quality improves after 24 days of choking, still remains poor, capital city records coldest November in 5 years

Delhi Pollution: After 24 days of choking, residents of Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region (NCR) breathed easy on Sunday morning as overall air quality improved to the ‘poor’ category (6 am), with an AQI reading of 270, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI is lower than Saturday’s AQI of 305, marking a major improvement in air quality after 24 days.

Delhi Pollution: AQI Report

The overall AQI of the capital city in the previous week was – 369 on Friday, 377 on Thursday, 327 on Wednesday, 352 on Tuesday, and 382 on Monday.

On Sunday, out of 38 monitoring stations across Delhi, only 5 recorded AQI in ‘very poor’ range. AQI monitoring stations in hotspots areas like – Dilshad Garden, Jahangirpuri, Nehru Nagar, RK Puram and Shadipur recorded ‘very poor’ range. Notably, Mandir Marg recorded the best Air Quality Index of 157, ‘moderate’ range, as of 6 am.

#WATCH | Delhi: The area around Akshardham Temple is blanketed in a layer of toxic smog as the AQI in the area is 269 in the ‘Poor’ category, as claimed by the CPCB pic.twitter.com/Ggdgmpqil4

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2025

The reasons for the major improvement in AQI are – wind speed, favourable wind direction, and the end of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.

According to Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change) at Skymet Weather, Mahesh Palawat, the air quality is likely to return in ‘very poor’ category in the coming days. Because of the good wind flow, the AQI may not slip into the ‘severe’ category.

Delhi Pollution: Vehicular Emission – The Major Contributor

The Decision Support System of the India(BHARAT)n Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, stated that vehicular emissions remain one of the major culprits as it contributed 18.7 percent to Delhi’s pollutants on Saturday.

Today, it is expected that vehicular emissions will contribute around 18.6 per cent of the city’s pollution.

#WATCH | Delhi | Visuals from the Anand Vihar area as a layer of toxic smog blankets the city. AQI (Air Quality Index) around the area is 281, as claimed by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board), categorised as ‘Poor’. pic.twitter.com/mC0hwqJJVU

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2025

Delhi Pollution: Capital City Records Coldest November In 5 Years

Amid the deteriorating air quality, Delhi has recorded the coldest November in five years. The monthly average minimum temperature has fallen to 11.5 degrees Celsius. According to the India(BHARAT)n Meteorological Department (IMD), last year in November, the average minimum temperature was 14.7 degrees Celsius, in 2023 it was 12 degrees, in 2022, it was 12.3 degrees, and 11.9 degrees in 2021. Daytime temperatures or maximum temperatures also remained lower than in 2024. In November, the average maximum temperature stood at 27.7 degrees Celsius, compared to 29.4 degrees last year.

The nation capital’s lowest minimum temperature in November recorded was 8 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees less than in 2024.

Delhi Weather: Which Year Had The Coldest November

According to the weather department’s monthly data, Delhi experienced its coldest November in 2020 when the average minimum temperature dipped to 10.3°C. in 2020 the capital city experienced seven chilling days with temperatures below 8°C. The lowest minimum temperature was recorded at 6.3°C on November 23, 2020.

#WATCH | Delhi | The area around India(BHARAT) Gate and Kartavya Path is blanketed in a layer of toxic smog as the AQI in the area is 222 in the ‘Poor’ category, as claimed by the CPCB pic.twitter.com/F8ufebvNqN

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2025

Delhi Weather: Temperature May Drop Further

The weather department stated that the cold in Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region (NCR) is expected to intensify further today. The minimum temperature is expected to drop to 7 degrees. Winds are expected to blow at speeds of 15 to 20 kmph in the morning.

Delhi Weather: Impact Of Cyclone Ditwah

According to the Meteorological Department, people may face a drier day with more chilly night. The impact of Cyclone Ditwa is expected to impact the weather conditions of North Indi,a due to which the cold is expected to intensify in Delhi and NCR.

Light smog is expected to prevail in the morning today. Temperatures from South Delhi to West and North Delhi are also expected to be 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. The weather department stated that NCR’s major cities like – Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad are expected to experience light fog in the morning, though it will clear as the day progresses. The sky may remain partly cloudy.

The maximum temperature is expected to hover between 23 to 25 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature is expected settle between 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. There are no chances of rain as the sky will remain clear during the day. No major alert has been issued.