AQI in city drops to double digits with unseasonal showers

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sunil Kamble, director of IMD Mumbai said, “Since we had interaction of winds, we were expecting very light rain and cloudy weather until Wednesday. However, after Wednesday, there will be no rain and the weather will clear up.”

Amid rain, minimum temperatures registered a spike with the IMD’s Santacruz observatory recording a minimum temperature of 22 degrees, which is five degrees above the norm. Meanwhile, indicating a departure of four degrees above normal, Colaba coastal observatory registered a minimum temperature of 23.8 degrees.

Responding to questions, Kamble maintained that Mumbai is unlikely to witness a drop in minimum temperatures for the next 2-3 days at least.

While temperatures soared, the city breathed easy on Wednesday as the overall AQI in the megapolis dropped to 87. Data procured from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reflected that of the city’s 25 recording stations, 20 recorded AQI in double digits, with the best air quality observed in Mulund (55), followed by Sewri (56), Colaba as well as Byculla (58) and Kandivali West (62).

According to weather experts, rain in Mumbai and its neighbouring districts played a significant role in improving the air quality.

Mahesh Palawat from Skymet Weather Services told The Indian Express, “When there is rain in isolated pockets, the pollutants from neighbouring regions which have not received rain gush in and do result in any AQI improvements. However, when it rains in several pockets, pollutants from all regions are cleared and the AQI drops. Therefore, even though Mumbai received little rain on Tuesday, air quality improved significantly as the neighbouring districts and several parts of Maharashtra received rain.”

“Owing to rain, the air quality will clear up at least for the next 48 hours and if the speed of winds is high, it may continue to remain good,” he added.