MUMBAI: The Air Quality Index (AQI) continued to remain in the 'very poor' category in Mumbai for the third consecutive day. Since January 6, the AQI has been above 300. Experts said that there isn't much good news in store too as AQI for Mumbai will be hovering around the same range.

Real-time data recorded by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) pegged the city's overall AQI at 302, up from 263 on Tuesday.

Dr. GufranBeig, project director (SAFAR) from Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology said that AQI above 300 is considered as very poor. "A variation in AQI when it goes above 300 is extremely insignificant and would mean that the air quality is not good for Mumbai. The AQI is expected to hover in this range itself in the days to come. Although one might feel that pollution levels are higher in during daytime on account of vehicular pollutants, but pollution is the highest after sunset and remains high up to sunrise considering particulate matter released during that period is the highest," said Beig.

According to real-time data, Malad and Andheri with an AQI of 359 and 343, respectively, were among the worst polluted areas in the city. The relatively cleaner areas included Mazgaon and Colaba with an AQI of 211 and 259.

Experts attribute the poor air quality to weather conditions as well. Low minimum temperature coupled with high humidity levels are also one of the causes for the increase in air pollution. "AQI is known to be the worst across the world when temperatures drop and winds become calm and the humidity levels are high," said Beig. On Friday the humidity levels recorded in Colaba and Santacruz were 72% and 48% respectively.