Delhi’s winter is turning harsher as the city steps into the first week of January, with weather officials warning of cold wave conditions at isolated locations and persistent dense fog that is expected to disrupt daily life over the next few days.
The India Meteorological Department has said that cold wave conditions are likely between January 2 and January 5, as temperatures continue to hover well below seasonal averages and fog blankets large parts of the national capital during night and morning hours.
According to the IMD, a cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature drops 4.5 to 6.5 degrees Celsius below the normal average, a situation that Delhi may witness at select places as cold northwesterly winds dominate the region.
How Cold Will Delhi Get in the Coming Days?
On Thursday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 17.3 degrees Celsius, which remained below normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 10.6 degrees Celsius. Weather officials expect temperatures to fall further, especially during the night and early morning hours.
The IMD has forecast that the maximum temperature is likely to remain between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature could dip to between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, increasing the risk of cold wave conditions in pockets of the city.
A partly cloudy sky will prevail, but fog will continue to dominate mornings.
Dense Fog to Persist Till January 6
Dense to very dense fog is expected to continue through the night and morning hours till January 6, raising concerns over visibility on roads, railways, and at airports.
Several areas have already seen poor visibility. Safdarjung recorded visibility as low as 500 metres for several hours overnight, while Palam also reported similar conditions before a slight improvement in the morning.
Meteorological officials have warned that such fog conditions are likely to persist, especially during calm wind conditions.
Delhi Sees Coldest December Day Since 2019
The cold spell capped off December on a bitter note. Delhi recorded its coldest December day in six years on Wednesday when the maximum temperature plunged to 14.2 degrees Celsius, around 6 degrees below normal.
IMD data shows that the last time Delhi experienced a colder December day was on December 31, 2019, when the maximum temperature dropped to 9.4 degrees Celsius.
Air Quality Remains ‘Very Poor’ Across the City
Alongside the cold and fog, air pollution continues to worsen. Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index stood at 380, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category.
Several monitoring stations reported severe pollution levels, with Anand Vihar recording one of the highest AQI readings at 423. Officials said low wind speeds and poor atmospheric ventilation are preventing pollutants from dispersing.
The combination of cold temperatures, dense fog, and stagnant air is expected to keep pollution levels elevated in the coming days.
The IMD has also issued cold wave warnings for Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana till January 5, as north India experiences one of its sharpest winter spells in recent years.