For the second consecutive day, Delhi residents grappled with intense 'cold day' conditions on Thursday, January 8, as the mercury stayed significantly below the seasonal average. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that these chilly conditions, classified as cold day to severe cold day, will persist, leading to an extension of the yellow alert initially issued on Wednesday.
IMD Forecast: Prolonged Chill and Wind Patterns
The weather agency predicts that the cold wave gripping the national capital will continue until January 10. Despite the biting cold, the IMD has forecast shallow fog in isolated parts of the city during the morning. The skies, however, are expected to remain mainly clear throughout the day. Visibility levels were notably low, with Safdarjung recording around 800 metres and Palam experiencing visibility as low as 600 metres.
Explaining the phenomenon, Mahesh Palawat, Vice President at Skymet, told Hindustan Times that consistent northwesterly winds, combined with fog, are preventing the daytime temperature from rising. "While a few places saw sunshine, it was not strong enough," he stated.
The IMD's detailed bulletin indicates that the predominant surface wind in the morning will be from the west, with speeds up to 10 kmph. This wind is expected to shift to the northwest in the afternoon, with speeds increasing to up to 16 kmph.
Temperature Trends and Predictions
The maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are anticipated to hover between 15°C to 17°C and 07°C to 09°C, respectively. Notably, while the minimum temperatures are currently above normal by 0.1°C to 2.1°C, the maximums are substantially below normal, ranging from -1.5°C to -3.0°C.
The IMD expects little change in minimum temperatures over the next two days. A slight rise of 1-2°C is predicted for January 10, followed by a drop of a similar magnitude thereafter. Consequently, minimum temperatures are likely to be in the normal range (-1.5°C to 1.5°C), except on January 10, 2026, when they are forecast to be above normal (1.6°C to 3.0°C). Maximum temperatures will likely remain below normal (-1.6°C to -3.0°C), turning appreciably below normal (-3.1°C to -5.0°C) on January 11, 2026.
Marginal Improvement in Delhi's Air Quality
Amid the cold, there is a sliver of positive news regarding the city's air pollution levels. Delhi's air quality showed marginal improvement, though it remains in the 'poor' category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 289 on Wednesday. This marks a slight improvement from Tuesday's AQI of 310, which fell into the 'very poor' zone.
As of 8 AM on Thursday, the real-time AQI was recorded at 277. The CPCB categorizes an AQI between 201 and 300 as 'poor', 301 and 400 as 'very poor', and 401 and 500 as 'severe'.
The extended cold day conditions, coupled with poor air quality, continue to pose challenges for Delhi's residents, with authorities advising caution, especially for the elderly and those with respiratory issues.
