Delhi records above-normal day temp, mist forecast for Saturday

NEW DELHI: Delhi witnessed a warm Friday as the maximum temperature settled at 28.4 degrees Celsius, 2.9 notches above normal, while the air quality remained in the "poor" category at 209.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 12.8 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

For Saturday, the weather office has forecast a mainly clear sky with mist during the morning hours, and the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 28 degrees Celsius. Station-wise data showed that Ridge recorded the highest maximum temperature at 28.8 degrees Celsius, 3 notches above normal, followed by Lodi Road at 28.6 degrees Celsius, 3.6 degrees above normal.

Meanwhile, Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 26.3 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degrees above normal, and Ayanagar recorded 26.8 degrees Celsius, 3.3 degrees above normal. The Ridge recorded a maximum temperature of 26.5 degrees Celsius, 2.7 notches above normal, while Palam recorded 23.6 degrees Celsius.

On the air quality front, the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 198. According to the CPCB's SAMEER app, during the evening hours, 22 stations were in the ‘poor’ category, 15 stations in the ‘moderate’ category, and one station in the ‘very poor’ category.

In the morning hours, the air quality was also recorded in the ‘moderate’ category at 9 am on Friday, with an AQI reading of 184, CPCB data showed.

The air quality is likely to be in the Poor category from February 21 to 23, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System.