New Delhi, January 17, 2026 — Delhi woke up to another bitterly cold and fog-laden morning on Saturday as an intense cold wave continued to grip the national capital. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 4.4 degrees Celsius, marginally higher than Friday’s reading, but the slight increase did little to ease the biting chill or improve visibility conditions.

Dense fog blanketed large parts of Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR), pushing visibility levels down to near zero in several areas. The combination of cold air, high moisture, and stagnant atmospheric conditions not only disrupted daily life but also worsened air quality, with pollution levels remaining firmly in the ‘very poor’ category.

Temperatures Stay Low Across the City

According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Safdarjung, Delhi’s base weather station, recorded a minimum temperature of 4.4°C early Saturday morning. Other monitoring stations across the city also reported similarly low temperatures, underlining the widespread nature of the cold spell.

Minimum temperatures recorded at key stations were as follows:

• Safdarjung: 4.4°C
• Palam: 5.7°C
• Lodi Road: 5.2°C
• Ridge: 5.2°C
• Ayanagar: 4.9°C

Meteorologists said the persistence of northerly winds carrying cold air from the Himalayan region, coupled with clear night skies, has contributed to the sharp drop in night-time temperatures over the past week.

Although Saturday’s minimum was slightly higher than Friday’s, residents continued to experience severe cold during the early morning hours, particularly in open and low-lying areas.

Dense Fog Disrupts Travel

The cold wave has been accompanied by dense to very dense fog, severely reducing visibility across Delhi. Several areas reported visibility dropping to near zero during the early morning hours, making road travel hazardous and slowing down traffic on major arterial roads.

The dense fog also caused delays and disruptions at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Airport authorities said flight operations were affected, particularly during the early morning window, when visibility was at its lowest.

Passengers were advised to check the status of their flights with airlines before leaving for the airport, as delays and diversions remained possible. While CAT-III compliant aircraft and runways allow limited operations even in low visibility, cascading delays continued to affect flight schedules.

Rail services were also impacted, with several long-distance trains running behind schedule due to foggy conditions along northern routes.

Air Quality Remains a Major Concern

Alongside the cold and fog, air pollution continues to be a serious concern in Delhi. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 368 on Saturday morning, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category.

Pollution levels have remained elevated for much of the winter season, with the AQI frequently oscillating between ‘poor’, ‘very poor’, and ‘severe’ categories since November. Experts say winter meteorological conditions, including low wind speeds, temperature inversion, and high humidity, trap pollutants close to the ground, preventing their dispersion.

According to pollution monitoring agencies, particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10 continues to dominate the pollution profile, posing health risks, especially to children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions.

Doctors have repeatedly advised residents to limit outdoor exposure during early morning and late evening hours, use masks where possible, and follow medical guidance if they experience symptoms such as breathlessness, coughing, or irritation of the eyes and throat.

Cold Wave to Ease Slightly, But Fog to Persist

While the cold wave has shown no immediate signs of ending, the IMD has indicated that some marginal relief may be on the horizon. Meteorological forecasts suggest that minimum temperatures could rise gradually over the next couple of days.

According to the IMD, Delhi’s minimum temperature may climb to around 9 degrees Celsius by Monday. However, this improvement is expected to be temporary, with temperatures likely to dip again in the days that follow.

Importantly, weather officials noted that the cold wave is unlikely to intensify to the extreme levels witnessed earlier this week. On January 15, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 2.9°C at Safdarjung, marking the city’s coldest night in three years.

The last time Delhi experienced a lower minimum temperature was on January 18, 2023, when the mercury dropped to 2.6°C. While current conditions remain harsh, forecasters believe a repeat of such extreme cold is unlikely in the immediate future.

Despite the expected slight rise in temperatures, a fog warning remains in place for Delhi until January 22. This means dense fog conditions are likely to continue during late night and early morning hours, keeping visibility low and travel disruptions a concern.

Pollution Expected to Worsen Further

Adding to residents’ woes, air quality forecasts suggest that pollution levels could deteriorate further in the coming days. Earlier projections by the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi had indicated a likely worsening of air quality, with ‘severe’ conditions possible on Sunday, January 18.

The absence of strong winds or rainfall means there is little natural relief in sight for pollution levels. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and may consider additional restrictions if air quality plunges into the ‘severe’ category.

Measures such as restrictions on construction activities, increased mechanised road sweeping, and tighter controls on vehicular emissions are typically implemented under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) when pollution reaches critical levels.

Winter Woes Continue for Residents

For Delhi’s residents, the combination of biting cold, dense fog, and hazardous air quality has made daily life increasingly challenging. Morning walkers have stayed indoors, schools have adjusted schedules in some areas, and office-goers have faced longer commutes due to poor visibility.

Homeless shelters across the city have been put on high alert, with authorities expanding night shelter facilities and distributing blankets to protect vulnerable populations from the harsh weather.

As winter tightens its grip, experts stress the importance of precautionary measures, including staying warm, avoiding prolonged outdoor exposure during peak pollution hours, and keeping track of official weather and air quality updates.

With fog expected to persist and pollution likely to worsen before improving, Delhi appears set for several more days of cold, grey, and hazardous conditions before winter finally begins to loosen its hold on the capital.