Weather update: Delhi remains cold for second day as fog returns; yellow alert in place

Delhi remained firmly in winter’s grip on Wednesday, recording a second straight “cold day” at key weather stations, even as residents woke up to brief relief from dense fog on Thursday morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the comfort may not last, with foggy conditions expected to return and a yellow alert continuing for January 8.

Second consecutive cold day in the Capital

Cold day conditions were recorded at Palam and Lodhi Road on Wednesday, similar to Tuesday. Under IMD norms, a cold day is declared when the minimum temperature falls below 10°C and the maximum is at least 4.5°C below normal. Palam and Lodhi Road met this criterion, with departures of 4.8°C and 4.7°C below normal, respectively.

Palam remained the coldest area, recording the lowest maximum temperature of 13.9°C. Ridge and Ayanagar followed at 15.9°C. The city’s minimum temperature settled at 8.6°C, around two degrees below normal, keeping the day–night temperature difference to just about 8°C.

Fog, winds and poor daytime warming

Shallow fog was observed across Delhi on Wednesday morning, with visibility dropping to around 800 metres at Safdarjung and 600 metres at Palam. While surface fog was mostly shallow, fog persisted at upper levels. Consistent north-westerly winds, combined with fog, prevented daytime temperatures from rising, despite brief sunshine in some areas.

Low visibility also affected early morning operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, where visibility was around 800 metres.

What to expect on Thursday, January 8

Thursday morning brought temporary visibility relief, with largely clear skies reported in several parts of the city. However, the IMD has forecast moderate to dense fog during morning hours and the return of mist at night. Upper-level fog is also expected to persist across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

The maximum temperature is likely to rise marginally by about one degree, hovering between 12°C and 16°C, while the minimum is expected to remain around 8°C. Light north-westerly winds are likely during the day, turning calm at night.

Cold to intensify across north India

Experts say cold conditions across north India are set to intensify until January 15. With no major weather disturbances expected, similar patterns may continue, including strong wind chill effects in the evenings. Delhi is likely to remain cold and fog-prone in the days ahead, with only limited daytime relief.