Significant improvement was observed in air quality in the city on Sunday as the mass concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) was recorded at a low level. According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the mass concentration of PM 10 was 292.6. However last week, it was recorded above 400 while PM 2.5 was recorded at 172.3.

The air quality level, as designated by SAFAR, has come to “poor” from “very poor”. The official of Indian Metrological Department has predicted light rain on Monday which is also expected to slightly help wash off the Splendid Particulate Matter (SPM)s.

City based environmentalist said the reason for low mass concentration of PM is the warm weather of Delhi. “Though warm weather of city is helping to clean up the air, but adequate rain will help more to wash the SPM completely from Delhi air,” he added.

As per the National Air Quality Index (NAQI), PM 2.5 was 48.99 µg/m3 at Civil lines area and PM 10 was 684.07 µg/m3 observed while in Mandir Marg area , PM 10 and PM 2.5 was 326 µg/m3 and 232 µg/m3 respectively which was significantly less compared to last week mass concentrations of PM levels.

Residents on Sunday woke up to wintry conditions marked by overcast skies even as the minimum temperature was recorded at 12.2 degrees Celsius.

A thick haze engulfed the city early in the morning with visibility reduced to 100 metres at 5.30 AM. Humidity in the air was 95 per cent as per the reading at 8.30 AM.

The low registered temperature was two notches above the season’s average while the maximum was 25 degrees Celsius. The weatherman has forecast partly cloudy skies through the day with the occurrence of moderate to dense fog at some places.

On Saturday, the minimum temperature recorded was 13.6 degrees while the maximum had settled at 24.5 degrees.