Delhi shivers in dense fog, Noida sees zero visibility; IMD forecasts rain today
Delhi and its neighboring regions, including Noida and Ghaziabad, woke up to dense fog on Wednesday. The cold wave intensified, reducing visibility to near zero in many areas. This disrupted traffic and raised concerns about flight and train schedules.
At 5:30 a.m., Delhi recorded a temperature of 10°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a minimum of 9°C and a maximum of 19°C for the day. IMD also forecasted a cloudy sky with chances of light rain or drizzle.
In Ghaziabad, thick fog severely affected visibility, causing traffic disruptions. Meanwhile, the Delhi airport issued an advisory. It stated, “Landings and takeoffs continue, but flights not CAT III compliant may face delays. Passengers should contact airlines for updates.”
IMD noted minimum temperatures in Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh remained 3°C to 5°C above normal. Southeast winds, blowing at less than 4 kmph in the morning, are expected to shift southward and increase to 6-8 kmph by afternoon. During the evening and night, wind speeds may drop again to below 4 kmph, with smog or moderate fog likely.
Homeless individuals sought refuge in night shelters as the cold worsened. Many were seen huddling under blankets provided by shelter facilities. While minimum temperatures showed no significant change, IMD predicted a gradual 2-3°C rise over the next three days.
Foggy conditions remain a concern in northern India. Dense to very dense fog is expected to persist during nighttime and early morning in West and East Uttar Pradesh. Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Rajasthan are also likely to see heavy fog until January 18, with conditions persisting in Punjab and UP through January 19.
On Tuesday, thick fog had already blanketed Delhi, reducing visibility to zero in several parts and disrupting train schedules. IMD reported visibility below 50 meters in many areas. Palam experienced zero visibility from 4:30 a.m. with southeasterly winds blowing at 6-8 kmph.
Delhi’s maximum temperature on Tuesday reached 21.2°C, slightly above the season’s average, while the minimum stood at 8.9°C. Despite slight temperature variations, the ongoing cold wave and foggy conditions continue to challenge daily life across northern India.
