Air quality indices paint a grim picture today: Noida’s Sector-1 at 352, Sector-116 at 341, Ghaziabad’s Loni hitting a dangerous 423, and Delhi’s Jahangirpuri at 391. These levels pose serious health risks, prompting urgent calls for improvement.

IMD’s detailed outlook for January 23 includes daytime highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Expect intermittent storms, lightning strikes, and winds gusting 30-40 km/h across all hours. Rain will play a pivotal role in washing away PM2.5 and other particulates.

By January 24, cooler weather sets in with max 20°C and min 7°C, plus moderate fog. The prior two days maintain foggy conditions without severe warnings.

While the rain promises pollution relief, specialists warn of ensuing cold snaps lasting a few days. Citizens are urged to stay indoors during storms, bundle up, and monitor updates. This meteorological intervention could mark a turning point in NCR’s winter pollution battle.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has described the current extreme weather as the nation’s worst natural disaster. He has pledged full government support for recovery efforts and assured citizens that the declared State of Public Emergency is solely focused on disaster management and will not infringe upon civil liberties. Immediate steps are being taken to restore vital services like water, electricity, and communication networks that have been severely disrupted across many areas.

In response to the cyclone’s impact, Puducherry has announced the closure of all government-aided and private schools for Monday, December 1st, due to heavy rain warnings. Similarly, schools in the Nellore and Annamayya districts of Andhra Pradesh will also remain shut. The Tamil Nadu government has not yet announced any school closures for Chennai.

Meanwhile, the weakened Cyclone Ditwah is moving parallel to the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast. The Regional Meteorological Centre noted that Karaikal received the highest rainfall with 19 cm, followed by Sembanarkovil with 17 cm. The system is expected to further weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area soon. Light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms is forecast for parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Monday, with isolated heavy showers possible in Tiruvallur district. Chennai and its surroundings can expect cloudy skies and scattered moderate rain with thunder and lightning.

The island nation has reported a devastating death toll, with at least 334 people losing their lives and an additional 370 individuals still missing due to Cyclone Ditwah’s fury. Communication breakdowns continue to hinder rescue and relief operations in the most severely impacted regions. The Sri Lankan President has pledged full state support for recovery efforts and assured that the current State of Public Emergency is solely focused on disaster management.

Indian rescue teams are actively collaborating with Sri Lankan authorities, including the Air Force, Navy, Army, and Police, to provide essential assistance to flood-affected communities. Evacuations, aid delivery, and emergency support are ongoing across the island. The cyclone’s weakening trajectory means the threat of widespread heavy rainfall for Tamil Nadu has diminished. Karaikal recorded the highest rainfall at 19 cm, followed by Sembanarkovil with 17 cm.

For Monday, light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms is anticipated in parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with isolated heavy showers possible in Tiruvallur district. Chennai and its surrounding areas can expect cloudy skies and potential moderate rain with thunder and lightning. In response to the weather warnings, Puducherry has announced school closures for all government-aided and private institutions on Monday. However, the Tamil Nadu government has not issued school holidays for Chennai. Schools in Nellore and Annamayya districts of Andhra Pradesh will also remain closed.

Areas such as Rajghat and ITO experienced even more severe air pollution, with AQI levels reaching 417, placing them in the ‘severe’ category. Other localities including Anand Vihar, Alipur, and Ashok Vihar also recorded AQI readings between 400 and 415, indicating dangerous air quality. Chandani Chowk recorded an AQI of 420, while Dwarka registered 378.

This severe air pollution coincides with dropping temperatures. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast minimum temperatures for Delhi to range between 9 to 11 degrees Celsius for Sunday. Yesterday, the capital recorded a low of 9.7 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the IMD has also issued various weather alerts for other parts of the country, including heavy rainfall warnings for Tamil Nadu and cold wave conditions for several northern and central states.