Delhi to Experience Isolated Cold Day Conditions as Air Quality Improves

New Delhi, Jan 7: Isolated cold day conditions were expected in Delhi on Wednesday as shallow fog enveloped the region and air quality improved. The minimum temperature was recorded at 8.6°C, two degrees above normal, while the 24-hour rolling Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to 300 (poor) at 9 am, down from 310 (very poor) on Tuesday afternoon. However, experts warned that air quality is likely to remain in the “very poor” category until Friday.

On Tuesday, Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 15.7°C, three degrees below normal, while Palam logged 13°C. Two stations reported cold day conditions with mercury dropping to 7.6°C. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a “cold day” occurs when the minimum temperature falls below 10°C and the departure from normal exceeds 4.5°C, while a “severe cold day” is declared when the maximum temperature is at least 6.5°C below normal.

Shallow upper-level fog on Wednesday reduced visibility to around 800 metres at Palam and Safdarjung. Fog and cloud cover typically raise minimum temperatures while keeping maximums low, maintaining a narrow temperature range that makes daytime conditions feel frigid.

Weather expert Navdeep Dahiya said the mercury is likely to dip further until January 15, with single digit maximum temperatures across the region. He predicted Safdarjung’s maximum could range between 12–15°C, while Palam may see 10–14°C. The minimum temperature may drop to 3–4°C, though not as low as in 2019. Early morning fog is expected to persist at mid- and upper-levels throughout the day.

Despite the IMD not forecasting cold day conditions on Tuesday, icy northwesterly winds combined with fog created a chilling effect. Dahiya added that while fog keeps minimum temperatures slightly higher, the winds gradually reduce the maximums and push the minimums lower, keeping the city in cold conditions.