Home / Weather / Delhi Chokes: Fog, Cold, and Pollution Grip New Year
Delhi Chokes: Fog, Cold, and Pollution Grip New Year
2 Jan
Summary
- Delhi faces ongoing fog, cold, and high pollution levels.
- Dense fog expected with an orange alert for Friday.
- AQI remains in 'very poor' category, with slight improvement noted.
Delhi experienced a grim start to the new year, with thick fog, cold weather, and persistent pollution continuing to affect the city. The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Friday, forecasting dense to very dense fog, with a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog on Saturday. Although Thursday did not officially register as a 'cold day,' maximum temperatures were two degrees below normal, accompanied by overcast skies and no sunshine. These conditions are attributed to a combination of shallow fog and upper-level cloudiness.
On Thursday, the maximum temperature at Safdarjung was 17.3°C, and the minimum was 10.6°C. This contrasts with Wednesday, which saw Delhi's coldest December day since 2019. Visibility was significantly reduced, with Palam and Safdarjung recording 500 meters, leading to delays in train services and over 500 flights at Delhi airport. Despite isolated drizzles, the air quality index (AQI) remained at 380, classifying it as 'very poor' for the seventh consecutive day.
Looking ahead, a sharp dip in minimum temperatures is anticipated after January 4, with experts forecasting consistent icy-cold northwesterly winds and a potential drop below 5°C by the second week of January. Maximum temperatures in northern India may also decrease. The Air Quality Early Warning System predicts the AQI to stay 'very poor' in the coming days. Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa noted an improvement in Delhi's annual PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in 2025 compared to 2024.
