Delhi Braces for Worst New Year's Eve in Years: Thick Fog, Poor Air Quality Expected

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As the clock ticks down to New Year's Eve, Delhi residents are in for a miserable celebration. A thick blanket of fog is expected to shroud the city over the weekend, with air quality predicted to remain in the "very poor" zone. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert, warning of dense fog on Saturday and Sunday mornings. According to experts, a combination of western disturbances and slow winds will lead to the worsening air quality. Western disturbances bring moist air from the Mediterranean Sea, which cools and releases precipitation when it hits the Himalayas. This can result in fog and poor air quality. Delhi's air quality index (AQI) has already shot up to 332 on Friday, far worse than the previous two days. The city's pollution monitors recorded 10 areas with "severe" air quality by 10pm on Friday. "Fog intensity may increase over the weekend as wind speeds dip marginally," said RK Jenamani, senior scientist at IMD. Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet, agrees that the upcoming western disturbance will lead to widespread dense fog. The state's environment minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, has also warned of tricky weather conditions in the coming days. Delhi's minimum temperature is expected to hover between 5-7°C till Sunday, before rising marginally and staying between 7-9°C till New Year's Eve. While the Centre's Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi's pollution says the AQI is unlikely to tip back into the "severe" zone, its previous predictions have been incorrect this winter. The city's residents can expect a gloomy New Year's Eve, with thick fog and poor air quality making it a miserable celebration.