This December Already the 5th Wettest Ever

Consistent rain and thunderstorm throughout Friday pushed the maximum temperature below 15 degrees Celsius for the first time this winter.

- HT Correspondent

Choking air pollution. The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) in Noida was 329 in "very poor" category while in Delhi, it improved from 353 ("very poor") at 4 pm to 325 by 8 pm on Friday.

Forecasts suggest that strong northwesterly winds may further cleanse the air. "There is a forecast for strong north-westerly winds to influence the region on December 30-31. That might help improve the air quality further," Palawat said.

The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi has forecast that the AQI may even dip into the "moderate" range over the weekend, before deteriorating again early next week. "The air quality is likely to be in moderate category on Saturday and in "poor" category on Sunday. The air quality is likely to be in very poor category on Monday," it said.

Grap Stage 3 removed

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), meanwhile, responded to improving air quality levels by revoking Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) on Friday. Grap 3, which kicks in when AQI exceeds 350, had been in place since December 16. Its removal marks a return to fewer restrictions: schools can resume offline classes for younger students, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles can ply in Delhi and NCR, and diesel goods carriers can re-enter the city.