Mumbai woke up to an unusually cool Saturday morning, offering residents a brief respite from the city’s typically warm and humid conditions. Minimum temperatures dipped just below 21 degrees Celsius, bringing a mild pre-winter chill that early risers welcomed as they stepped out to clear skies and light winds.
But the pleasant start to the day came with a lingering concern. A thin yet persistent layer of smog hovered over the city, muting visibility and dulling what could have been a crisp, picture-perfect morning. Despite the refreshing breeze, the haze remained stubborn—once again highlighting Mumbai’s worsening air-quality issues.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), clear skies are expected to prevail through the day, with maximum temperatures likely to rise to around 33 degrees Celsius by the afternoon. The cool early-morning trend is expected to continue over the next few days. However, meteorologists warn that there are no clear signs yet of any significant improvement in the city`s air quality.
Data from IMD observatories revealed notable contrasts in weather conditions across Mumbai. In Colaba, the minimum temperature settled at 23.2 degrees Celsius, accompanied by high relative humidity of 89 per cent. Meanwhile, the Santacruz observatory recorded a considerably cooler minimum of 19.6 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels around 76 per cent, showcasing the typical microclimatic differences between South Mumbai and the suburbs.
Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 170 on Saturday morning—firmly in the “moderate” category. This marks a deterioration compared to earlier this month, when the city reported relatively better air quality. Several pockets, especially industrial zones and densely populated neighbourhoods, registered even higher pollution levels, underscoring Mumbai’s persistent environmental challenges.
Meanwhile, there was no respite from toxic air for Delhi as it continued to face “very poor” air quality on Saturday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The city`s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 360, according to the 9 am hourly bulletin. According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe.
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 11.8 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
