The National Capital remains locked in an intense winter grip, with daytime temperatures plummeting below normal for the second consecutive day. The IMD has issued a yellow alert as icy northwesterly winds and a dense blanket of fog bring visibility to near-zero in several parts of the city.
New Delhi continues to reel under severe winter conditions as “Cold Day” to “Severe Cold Day” warnings were extended across the region Thursday (January 8, 2026). A sharp dip in both maximum and minimum temperatures, coupled with persistent upper-level fog, has forced the India Meteorological Department to maintain a yellow alert. At Safdarjung, the maximum temperature settled at 16.7°C, two degrees below normal, while Palam recorded a shivering high of just 13.9°C.
Met officials confirmed the city is experiencing a rare combination of surface-level shallow fog and a dense “fog layer” at upper altitudes, which acts like a lid, preventing sunlight from reaching the ground.
- Criteria Met: According to the IMD, a “Cold Day” is declared when the minimum temperature is below 10°C and the departure of the maximum temperature from normal is 4.5°C or more.
- Severe Conditions: Palam and Lodhi Road both met the “Severe Cold Day” threshold today, with maximum temperatures plunging more than 6.5°C below the seasonal average.
- Wind Chill Factor: Icy northwesterly winds blowing at speeds of 15–20 km/h have significantly lowered the “real-feel” temperature, posing health hazards for children and the elderly.
While the cold intensifies, the city’s air quality continues to bounce between the “Poor” and “Very Poor” categories, trapped by the low mixing height and lack of wind dispersion.
- AQI Snapshot: Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index was recorded at 276 (Poor) at 9:00 AM Thursday, though hotspots like Anand Vihar and Nehru Nagar remained in the “Very Poor” zone with readings above 330.
- Zero Visibility: Surface visibility at Palam dipped to 150 meters in the early morning hours, while Safdarjung recorded a low of 600 meters.
The combination of fog and cold has seriously impacted transit across North India.
- Travel Advisories: IndiGo Airlines and Air India have issued proactive travel advisories, warning of “ripple effects” across the network due to morning fog. Several flights scheduled for the morning were pre-emptively cancelled to avoid long airport wait times.
- Northern Railways: Over a dozen trains arriving in Delhi were reported delayed by 2 to 5 hours as engine drivers navigated near-zero visibility across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Met officials suggest the current cold spell is far from over. With no active Western Disturbance expected to disrupt the flow of icy winds from the Himalayas, the “bone-chilling” cold is set to intensify.
- Temperature Outlook: Minimum temperatures are expected to slide further to 4°C–5°C over the weekend.
- Extension of Alert: The yellow alert for moderate to dense fog is likely to stay in place through January 15, covering Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
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