THE strong winds forecast for today should help to clear the air after pollution shrouded the city yesterday, the weather bureau said.

The air quality index soared to 201 at 11am yesterday, with the concentration of main pollutant PM2.5 particles peaking at 150 micrograms per cubic meter, exactly double the national “safe” level of 75.

By dusk, the index had fallen to about 120, with a PM2.5 density of less than 100 micrograms per cubic meter.