Delhi experienced an unusually cold November morning on Sunday, with temperatures plunging to 9 degrees Celsius, marking the coldest day in the city for the month in three years. The reading was 4.5 degrees below the normal average for November, signaling an early onset of winter chills. This was the coldest November day since November 29, 2022, when the city recorded 7.3 degrees Celsius. Comparatively, in 2023 and 2024, the lowest November temperatures were 9.2 degrees Celsius on November 23 and November 29, respectively.

While residents braced for the cold, the city continued to struggle with deteriorating air quality. On Monday morning at 8 am, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 358, placing Delhi in the “very poor” category. The previous day, the 24-hour average AQI had hovered at 377, underscoring the persistent pollution levels that have long plagued the city during late autumn and early winter.

Certain areas of Delhi recorded even more alarming readings, exceeding the severe threshold. Narela reported an AQI of 405, Rohini 404, Wazirpur 402, and Jahangirpuri 406, all falling into the “severe” category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data at 8 am. These levels of pollution, particularly from tiny particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10, pose serious health risks, especially to children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

The Central Pollution Control Board classifies air quality based on AQI levels: 0–50 as ‘good,’ 51–100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101–200 ‘moderate,’ 201–300 ‘poor,’ 301–400 ‘very poor,’ and 401–500 ‘severe.’ With several parts of Delhi breaching the 400 mark, residents are enduring both extreme cold and hazardous air simultaneously.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has not yet declared a cold wave but indicated that the conditions could meet the criteria soon. A cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature falls below 10°C with a departure of 4.5°C or more below normal for two consecutive days. On Sunday, the combination of clear skies and steady northwesterly winds contributed to the temperature drop. IMD forecasts that minimum temperatures will remain below normal at least until Friday, with departures likely ranging between two and five degrees Celsius.

The early winter chill has already impacted daily life. Residents are bundling up against the cold, while public health concerns grow due to the combined effects of low temperatures and poor air quality. For Delhi’s vulnerable populations, particularly children attending schools and outdoor workers, exposure to high levels of particulate matter can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

As Delhi continues to experience these challenging conditions, authorities are urging residents to take precautions. Wearing masks outdoors, limiting physical exertion, using air purifiers indoors where possible, and monitoring vulnerable family members are among the recommended measures. Additionally, the city’s pollution-control strategies, such as regulating construction dust, controlling vehicular emissions, and curbing crop residue burning in neighboring states, remain critical to mitigating the compounded effects of cold and pollution.

This early cold snap, coupled with persistently high pollution, paints a stark picture for Delhi’s residents as the city heads into the heart of winter. Without sustained interventions, both in terms of immediate health precautions and long-term environmental policies, citizens may face increasingly severe winters marked not just by dropping temperatures but also by hazardous air conditions.