Warm, clear day in Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) It was a comparatively warm day in the capital Friday with maximum temperature settling a notch above average at 30.3 degrees and the skies remaining clear and sunny.

The met office has forecast similar weather Saturday.

The day’s minimum temperature was a notch below average at 12.8 degrees Celsius and the humidity levels wavered between 91 and 31 percent.

The smog cover, which had enveloped Delhi for the past few days, finally lifted Friday.

However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the smog might return after Diwali due to high air pollution.

Following concerns expressed by the Supreme Court over smog-ridden Delhi, the Delhi government had Wednesday blamed pollution emanating from vehicles in neighbouring states for the smog in the city.

Clouds of pollutants from burning of crop residue in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana was another reason for the smog.

However, IMD said that apart from foggy mornings, the skies would remain clear throughout the day for the next few days.

Saturday’s maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover between 29 and 13 degrees Celsius, it said.

Thursday’s maximum temperature was recorded a notch below average at 29.3 degrees Celsius while the minimum was 14.3 degrees — the average for this time of the season.

IANS 2012-11-09 18:44:05