Chilly winds brought the mercury down by three notches in Delhi while the national capital's air quality witnessed substantial improvement on Monday.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 18.9 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's average, while the 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) was in the 'poor' category at 207.

A day after it witnessed light showers, Delhi woke up to a windy and cold morning. The city recorded 20.4 mm of rainfall during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 10.2 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average. Humidity levels oscillated between 77 per cent and 100 per cent.

The weatherman has forecast mainly clear skies for Tuesday. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 22 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature was around 9 degrees.

There is also a likelihood of strong surface winds on Tuesday.

The 24-hour AQI on Sunday was recorded at 331 ('very poor').

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe', while the AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe-plus' category.

According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences', "air quality monitor SAFAR, Monday's AQI indicated 'upper end of moderate' air quality and the improvement was triggered due to washing out of pollutants by Sunday's rain".

"For the next three days, surface wind speed (16 to 20 km kilometres per hour) and temperature (maximum 20 to 22 degrees Celsius; minimum 8 to 10 degrees) are likely to improve air quality."

"Air quality is likely to improve but be within 'moderate' or 'lower end of poor' for the next three days due to enhanced dispersion by strong surface wind speed. Upper level winds (around 800 m) from southeast direction today are likely to reverse to northwest tomorrow and intensify significantly on February 1 that helps dilution of pollution and improvement in air quality," the air quality monitor said.

The air quality is likely to be 'poor' on Tuesday and will remain in the lower end of 'poor' on Wednesday and Thursday.

For the next six days, the air quality is likely to remain in the 'poor' to 'moderate' category and strong winds and better ventilation conditions are likely to persist.

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