Cold wave set to intensify in Delhi-NCR, dense fog to persist
NEW DELHI, INDIA JANUARY 14: People warm-up next to a bonfire on a cold and dense foggy winter morning at South West Delhi near Samalkha red light, on January 14, 2024 in New Delhi, India. Foggy morning challenges Delhi-NCR with intensifying cold wave, mercury dips further across North India. (Photo by Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Winter conditions in Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) are expected to intensify over the next few days, with the weather office forecasting cold wave conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said cold wave conditions are likely at isolated places in Delhi between January 2 and 5. A cold wave is declared when minimum temperatures fall 4.5 to 6.5 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average.
The IMD also forecast dense to very dense fog during night and early morning hours at several places in the city until January 6. Similar cold wave conditions have been predicted for Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi till January 5.
Dense fog and smog reduced visibility across parts of the city, disrupting daily life and prompting airlines to issue advisories.
Air India and IndiGo warned that flight schedules could be affected due to low visibility. IndiGo said some flights were cancelled in advance to minimise inconvenience to passengers.
An operational status report from IGI Airport at 7.30 am said CAT I operations were underway, visibility was recorded at 1,300 metres, there were no diversions and flight operations remained normal.
Notably, Delhi recorded its coldest December day since 2019 on December 31, 2025, when the maximum temperature fell to 14.2 degrees Celsius, about 6.2 degrees below normal.
