Chandigarh, 14 October, 2024: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that dry weather will persist in Chandigarh this week as the city moves into autumn. Although temperatures have generally been decreasing, there was a slight increase on Sunday.
According to IMD, the maximum temperature rose from 33.7°C on Saturday to 33.8°C on Sunday, which is 2.1 degrees above the average.
Moreover, the minimum temperature increased from 18.3°C to 19.5°C, exceeding the normal range by 1.6 degrees.
Surender Paul, director of IMD Chandigarh, remarked, “While we anticipate a gradual decline in temperatures as winter approaches, minor fluctuations may occur.”
He noted that temperatures will not necessarily drop consistently each day. Looking ahead, the maximum temperature is expected to stay around 34°C for the next three days, with the minimum remaining near 19°C.
In another development, Chandigarh’s Air Quality Index (AQI) shifted from satisfactory to moderate on Sunday.
The average AQI readings reached 121 in Sector 53, 102 in Sector 22, and 101 in Sector 25. An AQI of 51-100 is considered satisfactory and may cause slight breathing discomfort for sensitive individuals, while an AQI of 101-200 falls into the moderate category, potentially affecting those with respiratory or heart conditions.
The increase in pollution levels has been partially attributed to the use of green crackers during Dussehra, which led to a temporary spike in PM 2.5 levels, reaching 302 in Sector 53 before dropping to 27 by Sunday evening.
