New Delhi continued to experience intense winter conditions on Thursday, with a dense blanket of fog shrouding the national capital and severely limiting visibility in multiple localities, including Moti Bagh and Dwarka. The persistent cold wave has kept residents shivering, while the weather also contributed to delays in some flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert, cautioning of cold wave conditions likely at isolated locations across the region. According to IMD criteria, a cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius and deviates 4.5 degrees or more below the seasonal normal, or when it falls to 4 degrees Celsius or lower regardless of deviation.
Multiple weather stations in Delhi recorded cold wave conditions on Wednesday, an IMD official confirmed. The minimum temperature on Thursday was expected to range between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius, with daytime highs offering limited relief by reaching around the seasonal average.
Some moderation in the extreme chill is anticipated starting Friday, as a weak western disturbance approaches and influences the weather pattern. This system is likely to cause a gradual rise in night-time temperatures, with the minimum forecast to increase to 6–8 degrees Celsius on Friday and further to 8–10 degrees Celsius by Sunday.
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The approaching western disturbance, which began affecting the Himalayan region from January 15, is expected to bring fresh snowfall in higher elevations on January 16. Winds are predicted to shift to an easterly direction, introducing more moisture and contributing to milder conditions overall. A separate, more active western disturbance may arrive around January 22 or 23, potentially bringing rainfall to the plains, according to Mahesh Palawat, vice-president at Skymet.
On Wednesday, daytime temperatures provided a measure of comfort, with the maximum settling at 20 degrees Celsius—near the normal level. The previous day had seen a high of 21.6 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality stayed in the higher range of the very poor category on Wednesday, registering a 24-hour average Air Quality Index of 353, a slight improvement from Tuesday’s 360. The AQI is projected to remain in the very poor range at least until January 23.
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