Air Quality:
Delhi woke up to a chilly, windy morning with dense fog reducing visibility across the city. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 248, placing the capital in the ‘poor’ category.

Some of the worst-affected monitoring stations recorded ‘very poor’ air quality:

• Anand Vihar: 350
• Rohini: 361
• Chandni Chowk: 355
• Mundka: 329
• RK Puram: 322

Meanwhile, stations like NSIT Dwarka and Indira Gandhi International Airport reported better conditions at 177, categorised as ‘moderate’.

Temperature:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded Delhi’s minimum temperature at around 9°C on Sunday. Maximum temperatures are expected to range 18–19°C, while the minimum may drop to 7–8°C.

Impact on Republic Day Preparations:
Despite limited visibility due to smog, preparations for the Republic Day parade continued at India Gate.

Northern and Central India Weather Outlook:

• Dense fog: Forecast for many northern and eastern states, especially Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, western Uttar Pradesh (till Jan 5), eastern Uttar Pradesh (till Jan 8), East Rajasthan, Odisha, and pockets of Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar.
• Cold wave conditions: Likely in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi till Jan 7; western Rajasthan from Jan 5–8; eastern Rajasthan from Jan 4–8.
• Isolated snowfall/rainfall: Expected over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad on Jan 5–6; scattered precipitation in Himachal Pradesh on Jan 6.
• Temperature fluctuations: Northwest India may see a 2–3°C drop in minimums over the next two days, Central India 2–4°C over four days, East India a gradual fall of 2–3°C over three days. Gujarat may see a slight rise of 2–3°C in minimums.

Air Quality Management:
The Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has lifted Stage-III restrictions in the National Capital Region due to improved meteorological conditions. Citizens are still urged to follow Stage-I and Stage-II measures, and construction/demolition activities cannot resume without explicit approval.

Advice to Residents:

• Avoid outdoor exercise during dense fog and high pollution periods.
• Wear masks if stepping out in affected areas.
• Keep windows closed and use air purifiers if possible.

The combination of poor air quality, dense fog, and cold wave conditions is expected to persist for the next few days, requiring heightened caution for vulnerable populations.