With an average Air Quality Index of 294, Delhi has recorded its cleanest December air since the introduction of the AQI system in 2015. This improvement can be attributed to strong, consistent winds in the first half of the month and record-breaking rainfall in the second, officials said. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), December marked Delhi's cleanest first half ever, with only one 'very poor' air day recorded between December 1 and December 15. On Monday, the AQI stood at 173, in the "moderate" category, a significant improvement from Sunday's 225 (poor). This marked the eighth moderate air quality day this month, with the capital previously recording no more than three moderate days in December. The lowest AQI of this month was recorded on December 28, at 139, marking the cleanest December day on record. The average AQI during this period stood at 238, significantly lower than the usual AQI of over 300 for this time of year. In comparison, Delhi's average AQI was 348 last December, 319 in 2022, and 336 in 2021. The previous lowest December AQI was 300, recorded in 2015. Additionally, the month is set to conclude with at leats 53.5 mm of rainfall, making it the fifth-wettest December since 1901. The city also recorded its highest single-day December rainfall in 101 years, with 41.2 mm on December 28 (Friday). Severe cold gripped Haryana and Punjab on Monday, with maximum temperatures hovering well below normal limits in the two states. A thick blanket of fog reduced visibility early in the morning at many places in the two states. Piercing cold prevailed in Chandigarh during the day with the city recording a maximum temperature of 11.3 degrees Celsius, it's coldest day of the winter season so far, over eight notches below normal, according to the local Met office. In Haryana, severe cold prevailed during the day at most places.The maximum temperature in Ambala was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius, Hisar 14.5 degrees, Karnal 13.2 degrees, Rohtak 12.7 degrees, and Gurugram recorded a high of 13 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, cold wave swept Pathankot, which recorde
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 "News updates: Delhi records best December AQI since system began in 2015")
