New Delhi: Delhi's air quality stayed in the upper range of the very poor category on Saturday, showing little improvement from Friday, as pollution levels hovered near hazardous levels. The city recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 386 at 10 am, rising slightly to 390 by noon, close to the severe category, before settling at 387 by 3 pm. The average AQI for the day was 386, marginally lower than Friday's 387, both classified as very poor.Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates Sharply to ‘Red Zone’ as Diwali Fireworks Trigger Severe PollutionYou Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Gold Rate Today in Delhi | Silver Rate Today in DelhiExperts attributed the relative stability to light winds, better ventilation conditions and a lower impact of stubble burning on Friday—8.5% on Nov 14 compared with 12% on Nov 13. However, forecasts indicate that the city may slip back into the severe category by Monday. The centre's Early Warning System (EWS) projected, "Ventilation index is likely to be 9,000 m²/s on Nov 15, 6,000 m²/s on Nov16, 1,500 m²/s on Nov 17, and 3,000 m²/s on Nov 18 over Delhi. A ventilation index below 6,000 m²/s with average wind speeds under 10 km/h is unfavourable for dispersing pollutants. Air quality is expected to remain in the very poor category from Nov 15-16 and move to severe from Nov 17-18.For the subsequent six days, AQI is likely to stay in the severe to very poor range." The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-III measures will continue, after the AQI peaked at a season-high 428 on Tuesday, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to enforce Stage-III measures for the first time this season. Stubble burning continues to be a key contributor. Data from the centre's Decision Support System (DSS) predicted 16.3% of Saturday's pollution came from crop residue fires. This follows 8.5% on Nov 14 and 12% on Nov 13, down from a season-high 22.4% on Wednesday. Early north-westerly winds shifted to westerly during the day, reducing the impact of stubble smoke. As per CPCB readings, 16 areas of the city remained severely polluted late into Saturday, including Bawana (443), Wazirpur (434), Rohini (425), Chandni Chowk (425), Jahangirpuri (422), Vivek Vihar (422) and Mundka (420). Last November, Delhi recorded eight severe air days, peaking at an AQI of 494 on Nov 18, 2023—the second-highest on record. Historical data shows November has repeatedly brought hazardous air episodes in the capital, including nine severe days in 2023, 11 in 2021 and 10 in 2016. Saturday's weather saw a minimum temperature of 9.7°C, four degrees below normal, slightly lower than Friday's 10.2°C. The maximum temperature reached 26.6°C, two degrees below normal, with forecasts expecting 24-26°C over the weekend.