Delhi Welcomes New Year with Cold Weather, Fog and Very Poor Air Quality

Delhi welcomed the New Year with cold and cloudy weather, along with poor air quality across the city. Early on January 1, temperatures remained low, fog covered many areas, and pollution levels stayed high.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature in the city was around 10.6°C in the morning. Some parts of Delhi recorded even lower temperatures. Palam saw the coldest reading at 9°C, while areas like Lodhi Road, the Ridge, Safdarjung, and Ayanagar reported temperatures close to 10°C.

The weather department also said that light rainfall was possible during the day. A small amount of rain was already recorded in Palam early in the morning. Cloudy skies and light rain usually increase cold conditions during winter.

Delhi had ended the previous year on an extremely cold note. The city recorded its coldest December day in six years, with the maximum temperature dropping to just 14.2°C. This was much lower than the normal temperature for this time of year. The night was also very cold, with temperatures falling close to 6°C in some areas.

Weather officials have warned that colder days may be ahead. From January 3 onwards, minimum temperatures may drop further as cold winds from the Himalayan region move towards northern India, including Delhi.

Foggy conditions were also observed in the morning. Visibility dropped to about 500 metres in areas like Palam and Safdarjung, making travel slow and difficult in some places.

At the same time, air pollution remained a serious concern. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 371, which falls under the “very poor” category. Many air monitoring stations showed very poor or severe pollution levels, with Sonia Vihar reporting the worst air quality.

Experts advise people to avoid outdoor activities during such conditions, especially children, elderly people, and those with breathing problems.