NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: The air quality improved slightly on Sunday but remained in the poor category.The average 24-hour air quality index (AQI) of Noida was 268, Greater Noida recorded 236, and Ghaziabad saw an AQI of 280 as winds prevailed with 4-6 kmph during the daytime.Track the pollution level in your cityAQI was in the poor zone on Saturday as well. It was 265 in Noida, 228 in Greater Noida, and 276 in Ghaziabad.Meteorologists said the air quality is likely to degrade in the coming days.Weather conditions are likely to be highly unfavourable for the dispersion of pollutants. The surface wind is likely to be coming from northwest directions in Delhi-NCR, with wind speeds up to 8 kmph during the morning hours and becoming calm during the evening and night. A mostly clear sky and shallow to moderate fog in the morning are going to prevail from November 20–22. The air quality is likely to drop in the very poor range," according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar).On Sunday, Noidas maximum temperature increased to 28 degrees Celsius from 27.4 degrees a day earlier. Ghaziabads temperature also saw a slight rise at 27 degrees from 26 degrees on Saturday. Both cities recorded a minimum temperature of 14 degrees.On Sunday, Noidas Sector 116 station, which covers 7X sectors, recorded the highest AQI in the city at 320, followed by 266 at Sector 62, 258 at Sector 125, and 229 at Sector 1 station.Greater Noidas Knowledge Park III station recorded an AQI of 222, and Knowledge Park V had an AQI of 252. In Ghaziabad, all four stations air quality was in the poor category on Sunday. Loni recorded an AQI of 299, followed by 279 at Indirapuram, 271 at Vasundhara, and 268 at Sanjay Nagar.On Saturday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) also held a review meeting and revoked restrictions under GRAP IV measures; however, measures under GRAP I to III will remain in place.Meanwhile, Delhis air quality was very poor on Sunday with an AQI reading of 301.It is likely to stay in this band till November 22. Meteorological conditions are unfavourable for the dispersion of pollutants from November 23 onwards, said the Air Quality Early Warning System, the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences. This could mean that the AQI may see a deterioration.The Central Pollution Control Boards data shows that the air quality had been poor with a reading of 290 at 9am, but the overall AQI settled at the lower end of the very poor category finally.Experts said since the wind direction was easterly on Sunday, it was unfavourable to the transport of smoke from stubble burning sites in neighbouring states to Delhi. The air quality also did not deteriorate deep into the red (very poor) category as wind speed slightly picked up during the day.Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh recorded 740, 33, 188 paddy residue burning events, respectively, on Sunday. The share of stubble burning in Delhis PM2.5 on Sunday was estimated at 2.55%, according to the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences.

Stay updated with all the Ghaziabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.