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Delhi Enters 2026 With Chill, Fog and Very Poor Air After Coldest December Day in Six Years

Forecasters expect a brief spell of light rain today followed by a sharper temperature dip from January 3.

Overview

  • IMD logged Delhi’s Dec 31 maximum at 14.2°C, about 6.2°C below normal and the lowest December daytime reading since Dec 31, 2019 (9.4°C).
  • On Jan 1, shallow fog cut visibility to around 500 metres at Palam and Safdarjung, and trace rainfall was recorded at Palam early in the day.
  • Delhi’s air quality stayed in the ‘very poor’ range with an overall AQI of 371 at 10 am, while several stations slipped into the ‘severe’ category.
  • Skymet and IMD indicated very light, isolated showers are possible today due to an induced cyclonic circulation over Punjab and Haryana, with cold-day conditions persisting.
  • Minimum temperatures are forecast to drop further from Jan 3 as northerly winds strengthen, and higher reaches of Kashmir reported fresh snowfall with more light to moderate precipitation expected within 24 hours.