Mumbai air quality almost ‘poor’; scientists indicate further decline amid IMD forecasting temperature dip

Indicating that the temperatures are slated for a further drop, the IMD’s forecast bulletin stated that the minimum temperatures are apt to dip beyond 17 degrees connected November 27-28. Earlier connected Thursday, the minimum somesthesia dipped to 18.5 degrees–making it Mumbai’s coldest November nighttime since 2022.

As the temperatures plummeted, the wide AQI worsened importantly connected Sunday arsenic the aerial prime astir breached the ‘poor’ category. While the metropolis has been reeling nether mean aerial prime since the withdrawal of monsoon successful October, the AQI successful Mumbai touched 199 connected Sunday evening.

For the record, AQI readings successful 0-50 are regarded arsenic good, 51-100 is regarded arsenic satisfactory, 101-200 is regarded arsenic moderate, 201-300 is regarded arsenic poor, 301-400 is regarded arsenic precise mediocre and supra 400 is considered to beryllium severe.

According to the CPCB data, of the city’s 22 signaling stations, astatine slightest 9 stations reeled nether ‘poor’ aerial prime with the worst AQI observed successful Worli (303), followed by Ghatkopar (288), Borivali East (279), Chembur (263), Malad and Sewri some of which recorded 262. None of the stations, meanwhile, registered ‘good’ AQI.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Gufran Beig, chair-professor astatine National Institute of Advanced Sciences (NIAS) said that this is the archetypal clip this season–besides Diwali day–that Mumbai’s aerial prime has spiked adjacent to the 200-mark, attributing the worsening aerial prime to dipping temperatures successful Mumbai.

“Currently, the temperatures person dropped significantly, marking the onset of winters. Whenever the temperatures drop, section winds dilatory down and the AQI deteriorates. This is what happened today. Even greener pockets similar Colaba which prevarication successful adjacent proximity grounds atrocious AQI, arsenic the aerial becomes stagnant. While the metropolis had experienced atrocious aerial prime during Diwali, this is the archetypal time, this season, that aerial prime has deteriorated truthful much,” explained Beig.
Earlier connected November 2, which was the time aft Diwali celebrations, the city’s wide AQI slipped to 208, which is regarded arsenic ‘poor’, but the aerial prime improved importantly a time after, erstwhile the AQI touched 151.

According to Beig, the aerial prime successful Mumbai is expected to witnesser further decline, with the temperatures forecast to dip further.

Beig added, “For the adjacent 3-4 days astatine least, the aerial prime is expected to stay successful the mediocre category. After this, the AQI whitethorn amended owing to the upwind reversals. However, the adjacent 2-3 volition stay captious successful Mumbai.”

Besides the dip successful minimum temperatures, the upwind bureau besides indicated that the metropolis would aftermath up to fog/mist alongside haze during the mornings.