Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) woke up on Saturday to a dense layer of fog, an uncommon sight for the end of March. The fog reduced visibility across several areas and gave the city a winter-like feel, unusual for a time when temperatures typically begin to rise.

The conditions followed a spell of light rain and mild thunderstorms on Friday, accompanied by gusty winds. This weather pattern led to a noticeable dip in temperatures across the capital and nearby regions.

Residents react to sudden weather shift

Many residents welcomed the cooler conditions after a recent warm spell. Social media was flooded with photos and reactions capturing the foggy morning. While several users described the weather as refreshing, others expressed surprise at the sudden shift.

Also Read | Delhi weather update: Dense fog in late March as temperatures dip, IMD explains

One user noted that Delhi’s weather currently “makes zero sense,” reflecting the mix of fog, rain, clouds, and intermittent heat seen this month. Another post highlighted that the temperature at 8 am had dropped to 16C, underlining the unusual chill for late March.

Temperature drop and record conditions

According to the India Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature on Friday settled at 16C, slightly below normal. The maximum temperature at Safdarjung was recorded at 21.7C, nearly 10 degrees below average. This made it the coldest March day in the city in six years.

The ongoing month has also turned out to be the wettest March in the past three years, with Delhi recording an average rainfall of 9.4 mm so far.

Also Read | Why is it raining in March? Rare 1,000-km weather system triggers storms across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan

Air quality improves, more clouds ahead

The rain and fog also contributed to a dip in pollution levels. As per the Sameer app, Delhi’s Air Quality Index stood at 94, placing it in the ‘satisfactory’ category, the lowest in five months.

Looking ahead, the IMD has forecast mostly cloudy skies over the coming week. Light rain, thunderstorms, and lightning may occur in the early part of next week, indicating that the unsettled weather is likely to continue for now.