Mumbai’s air quality showed a slight improvement on Monday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reading at 133, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)
data, down from Sunday’s 136.
The city’s air quality worsened sharply on Sunday, slipping from a “satisfactory” 86 on Christmas Eve (December 24) to “moderate” category. Mulund recorded the highest AQI in the city at 157 yesterday, followed by Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) at 151, both falling in the “moderate” category.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 to 100 “satisfactory”, 101 to 200 “moderate”, 201 to 300 “poor”, 301 to 400 “very poor”, and 401 to 500 “severe”, according to CPCB standards.
Temperatures To Dip Further
Meanwhile, the city is set to experience a further dip in night temperatures in the coming days, with minimum temperatures expected to drop to around 16 degrees Celsius by January 3, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Daytime highs are also expected to ease slightly, settling near 30 degrees Celsius, as the city transitions into the first week of the new year. Cloudy skies are predicted over the next few days, with stable weather conditions continuing.
Even as the city braces for cooler nights, Mumbaikars continued to wake up to pleasant mornings on Sunday, with minimum temperatures remaining below the 20-degree mark. The IMD recorded 17.2 degrees Celsius at Santacruz, close to the seasonal average, while Colaba reported a minimum of 20.4 degrees Celsius.
The drop in night temperatures has brought relief to residents, who are enjoying cooler mornings and evenings, although daytime temperatures have remained relatively high at around 32 degrees Celsius. Officials said the stable weather and gradual cooling trend are expected to continue into the first week of January.
