Delhi-NCR witnessed its coldest January morning in three years today, with the minimum temperature in the national capital plummeting to 2.9 degrees Celsius. The last comparable low of 1.4 degrees Celsius was recorded on January 16, 2023. The sharp dip marked an intense spell of winter across north India.
Dense fog blankets NCR, visibility plunges
The biting cold was accompanied by dense fog that threw daily life out of gear. Several parts of Delhi and adjoining areas reported near-zero visibility, with visuals showing roads and flyovers swallowed by a thick white haze. Gurugram experienced sub-zero-like conditions as temperatures plummeted below 1 degree Celsius.
In its district-level nowcast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that Delhi would continue to witness moderate to dense fog over the next few hours. Visibility at some locations was expected to fall below 50 metres, with authorities cautioning that fog conditions may further deteriorate after 7 am and affect road, rail and air movement.
Air quality remains in ‘very poor’ zone
Cold weather and stagnant winds kept pollution levels alarmingly high. Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index stood at 356, firmly in the “very poor” category. Several monitoring stations reported AQI readings above 300, with areas such as Chandni Chowk, Nehru Nagar, Pusa, Jahangirpuri, Vivek Vihar and Rohini remaining deep in the red zone. Other locations, including ITO, Dwarka Sector 8, Okhla Phase-2 and RK Puram, also recorded extremely poor air quality.
Cold wave to continue across north India
The impact of dense fog extended beyond the capital, affecting western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. Gautam Buddh Nagar reported reduced visibility, prompting advisories for commuters to exercise caution.
According to the IMD, cold wave conditions are very likely to persist over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha for the next two days. Weather expert Devendra Tripathi, founder of Mausam Tak, said a new Western Disturbance is expected from January 15, with a series of strong systems likely to bring heavy snowfall to the higher reaches of north India later this month.
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Travel advisories issued
Low visibility also disrupted air travel. Delhi airport issued a passenger advisory warning of possible flight delays due to CAT III conditions. Air India cautioned that fog in parts of northern India could have a cascading impact on its network and advised passengers to check flight updates, assuring support in case of delays or diversions.
