Haze Shrouds Pune Amid Rising Temperatures; Air Quality Improves
Haze Shrouds Pune Amid Rising Temperatures; Air Quality Improves
Foggy conditions persist, but AQI reaches “satisfactory” levels.
Pune has been enveloped in haze over the past two days, causing reduced visibility in several areas. Despite this, the city’s air quality has seen improvement, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 105, classified as “satisfactory,” on December 22, down from 158 last week.
Dense fog on Saturday sparked social media chatter, with many residents sharing their experiences of the weather. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed heavy fog, attributing it to moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal. While conditions slightly improved on Sunday, many areas continued to experience reduced visibility and atmospheric haze throughout the day.
Meteorologists noted a rise in minimum temperatures, which reached 15°C and are expected to climb further to 20-21°C by December 24, creating warmer nights during the Christmas period. However, maximum temperatures will remain steady.
Fog and Haze: Key Factors
IMD’s senior meteorologist, SD Sanap, explained that the interplay of high moisture levels and relatively low temperatures caused dense fog on December 21. This haze is expected to persist during early mornings for the next 2–3 days.
Air Quality Update
Of the city’s 15 monitoring stations, only five SPPU Chowk, Alandi, Nigdi, Lohegaon, and Bhosari, reported AQI above 100. While visibility was reduced, the overall air quality improved compared to last week, thanks to meteorological changes.
Forecast and Light Rain Prediction
Following the recent cold wave with single-digit temperatures, Pune is set to experience a period of cloudy skies. IMD predicts light rain on December 26 due to moisture-laden winds from the north. This weather shift marks a notable departure from the cold, clear conditions observed earlier in December.
Residents are advised to anticipate hazy mornings and potential drizzle as Christmas approaches, providing relief from extreme cold but continuing to challenge visibility.
