Delhi Fog Chaos: IndiGo, SpiceJet Flights Hit as IMD Red Alert Sounds at IGI Airport
Delhi residents woke up to severely reduced visibility on Tuesday morning as a thick blanket of dense fog enveloped the capital city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) responded by issuing both red and orange alerts for multiple districts across Delhi, signaling hazardous conditions for travel and daily activities.
IMD Issues Critical Weather Warnings
The meteorological authority's nowcast warning, valid until 9:33 AM, specifically highlighted the severity of the situation. Very dense fog was predicted over extensive areas including South East Delhi, East Delhi, Shahadra, Central Delhi, North East Delhi, South Delhi, New Delhi, South West Delhi, West Delhi, North West Delhi, and North Delhi. Simultaneously, an orange alert for dense fog covered many of these same regions, indicating widespread disruption.
Airport Operations Severely Impacted
At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, visibility plummeted to a mere 100 meters at 7:00 AM, forcing authorities to implement CAT III operational conditions. This special procedure is reserved for situations with extremely low visibility and involves advanced instrument landing systems to guide aircraft.
The airport management promptly issued a passenger advisory on social media platform X, stating: "Due to dense fog, flight operations are currently under CAT III conditions, which may cause delays. Passengers are requested to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight information or visit our official website."
Major Airlines Issue Travel Advisories
Leading Indian carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet both released official statements warning passengers about potential disruptions to their flight schedules.
SpiceJet's advisory explicitly mentioned: "Due to bad weather in Delhi (DEL), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may be affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via our official website."
IndiGo echoed similar concerns in their communication: "Low visibility and fog over Delhi may impact flight schedules. We are closely monitoring the weather and doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly. We request that you stay updated on your flight status via our website or app. Please be assured that our teams are here to assist you at every step and provide full support."
Weather Forecast and Temperature Outlook
The IMD had previously issued a yellow alert for dense fog in its weather bulletin dated February 2nd, predicting partly cloudy skies with shallow to moderate fog at many places and dense fog at isolated locations during morning hours.
According to the latest meteorological data:
- Maximum temperatures in Delhi are expected to range between 20 to 22 degrees Celsius
- Minimum temperatures will likely hover between 7 and 9 degrees Celsius
- The minimum temperature will remain near normal levels
- Maximum temperatures will be below normal, ranging from -1.6°C to -3.0°C below average
The combination of dense fog and below-normal temperatures creates challenging conditions for both aviation operations and daily commuters across the National Capital Region.
