With onset of winter, Delhi eyes at foggy days ahead

New Delhi: With winter approaching, the national capital is all set to experience foggy days from this weekend. The minimum temperature is also likely to drop till 16 degrees Celsius. 

According to the forecast of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Saturday and Sunday will witness shallow fog as the mercury will likely to hover around 29 and 30 degrees Celsius, respectively. 

From Monday onwards, there could be mist in the morning, the forecast said. While during fog, visibility is reduced to less than one kilometre, while during mist, it is more than one kilometre. 

The weather conditions could further deteriorate air quality in the capital. For fog, it may be noted, does not allow pollutants to disperse but instead traps them. 

At present, the wind speed is hovering around 1.5 metres per second, way below the required speed of five metres per second to disperse the water droplets and pollutants suspended in the air. The moisture content is also building up because of easterly winds.

Delhiites would have to start thir day early as traffic snarls are likely due to low visibility. 

On Friday, while the maximum temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory was registered at 30.1 degrees Celsius, the minimum was posted at 17.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal temperature for this time of the season.