Dense Fog and Poor Air Quality Persist in National Capital

Delhi is currently grappling with severe fog and alarming air quality levels, prompting the IMD to issue an orange alert. Visibility has dropped significantly, and the AQI has reached concerning levels, indicating a 'very poor' status across multiple monitoring stations. With predictions of continued poor air quality in the coming days, residents are advised to stay informed about the weather conditions. The forecast also suggests a chance of light rain on New Year's Day, adding to the city's weather challenges. Stay tuned for updates on this developing situation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 31, 2025, 11:09 IST

Severe Weather Conditions in Delhi

On Wednesday morning, the national capital was enveloped in thick fog, leading to air quality being classified as 'very poor'. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an 'orange alert' for dense fog between 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM.

According to the weather department, visibility was recorded at just 50 meters at both Palam and Safdarjung at 6:30 AM. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicated that the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the capital stood at 384.

Air quality was categorized as 'very poor' at 21 monitoring stations, while 16 stations reported 'severe' levels. The CPCB's 'Sameer' app highlighted Anand Vihar as the area with the worst air quality, recording an AQI of 452.

The CPCB defines AQI levels as follows: 0-50 is 'good', 51-100 is 'satisfactory', 101-200 is 'moderate', 201-300 is 'poor', 301-400 is 'very poor', and 401-500 is 'severe'.

The early warning system for air quality indicates that conditions remain alarming, with expectations that the AQI could reach 'severe' levels on January 1, and drop to 'very poor' on January 2. The air quality is predicted to remain in the 'very poor' category for the next six days.

On Tuesday, the AQI in Delhi was recorded at 388, showing a slight improvement from Monday's severe level of 401. The IMD noted that the minimum temperature in Safdarjung and Aya Nagar was 6.4 degrees Celsius, which is 0.4 degrees below normal.

The maximum temperature is expected to be around 23 degrees Celsius. The weather department also reported minimum temperatures of 7.7 degrees Celsius in Palam, 6.8 degrees on Lodhi Road, and 7.8 degrees in the Ridge area. Light rain is anticipated in the capital on New Year's Day, accompanied by overcast skies.