Delhi Air Quality Recovers To ‘Moderate’ As Gusty Winds Clear The Smog

NEW DELHI — After a week-long battle with deteriorating air, Delhiites woke up to a clearer sky on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Thanks to a surge in wind speeds, the city’s air quality successfully transitioned back into the “moderate” category, offering a much-needed break from the “very poor” conditions that had gripped the capital just 24 hours prior.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 194 at 9:00 AM on Thursday. This marks a significant recovery from the 305 (very poor) reading seen at 4:00 PM on Wednesday. The recent spike in pollution was attributed to stagnant winds and an approaching western disturbance, which had caused pollutants to accumulate since Monday.

1. The Weather Shift: Winds and Western Disturbances

The primary catalyst for this improvement has been the pickup in surface winds, reaching up to 20 km per hour. Weather officials noted that the first of three consecutive “feeble” western disturbances began affecting the Himalayan region on Tuesday, ultimately helping to disperse the smog in the plains by Thursday.

• Current Wind Patterns: Surface winds of 15–20 kmph are expected throughout Thursday, likely slowing slightly to 10–15 kmph on Friday.
• Upcoming Systems: A second western disturbance is predicted for Friday, February 13, followed by a third on February 16–17. While these systems are considered weak, they are crucial for keeping the air from turning stagnant again.

2. Temperature Trends: A Warm February Continues

Despite a slight dip in the minimum temperature, Delhi continues to experience warmer-than-usual conditions for mid-February.

• Min. Temperature: Recorded at 11.6°C on Thursday (1 degree above normal), down from 13.2°C on Wednesday.
• Max. Temperature: Expected to hover between 25°C and 28°C through Friday. Earlier this week, the mercury touched a high of 28.6°C on Tuesday, nearly 5 degrees above the seasonal average.
• Weekend Outlook: Minimum temperatures are expected to rise by another 1–2°C over the weekend, making for relatively warm nights.

3. Rain Forecast: Drizzle on the Horizon?

While the next two western disturbances will mostly impact the hills with snow and rain, private forecaster Skymet Weather suggests that the third system (around Feb 17) might bring a scattered drizzle to Delhi.

“The third western disturbance has chances of bringing some isolated, scattered rain in the plains, including Delhi. No significant drop in maximum and minimum temperatures is likely,” said Mahesh Palawat, Vice President at Skymet.

4. Weekly AQI Snapshot