Dust pounded overnight with gusty winds, lowering visibility to a very few hundred meters and sharply affecting the city's air quality, which worsened further in 24 hours on Thursday.
The city's air quality index (AQI), which was moderate (121) on Wednesday, plummeted to 'very poor' with an average reading of 316 on Thursday, according to data by the Central Population Control Board (CPCB).
Meteorological Department reports revealed that the desert state of Rajasthan's winds had a speed of as much as 30-40 kmph and caused scattered dust over the city. Whole areas of the city, including Golf Course Road, Sushant Lok, and residential areas, were covered with dust.
The panel will "once again review the situation" on Friday, it said.
Dust storms normally have a cooling effect, but temperatures fluctuated little. The lowest temperature in the city dropped marginally, from 24.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday to 23 degrees Celsius on Thursday. But the highest increased to 40.6 degrees Celsius, from 39.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
"Since there was no western disturbance in north India in the past few days, hot weather conditions are dominating."
Delhi-NCR is said to be hotter due to extremely large concrete surfaces, and more heat is emitted from air conditioners. The lowest temperatures dipped a little on Thursday, but the maximum increased since the effect of the dust storm did not persist during the day," an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official clarified.
The locals in the affected region reported breathlessness, along with irritation in their eyes and throat.
Rainfall expectation
Based on weather forecasts, particularly in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab, the temperature is likely to increase at least up to May 20 with no respite from heatwaves. Yet, there are cold winds predicted on May 18 and May 19.