Several parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region witnessed moderate to dense fog, with visibility dropping to as low as 500 metres at Safdarjung and Palam. Visibility at Safdarjung remained at 500 metres from 10.30 pm on December 31 till 8.30 am on January 1, improving slightly to 600 metres by 9 am. Palam recorded similar conditions, with visibility remaining at 500 metres till 8 am.
Very light rain or drizzle was reported at isolated locations, while calm winds and high humidity levels contributed to prolonged foggy conditions. Relative humidity stood at 97 per cent in the morning and 87 per cent in the evening.
At Safdarjung, Delhi’s base weather station, the maximum temperature settled at 17.3 degrees Celsius, about 2 degrees below normal, while the minimum was recorded at 10.6 degrees Celsius, which remained above the seasonal average. Across Delhi-NCR, maximum temperatures ranged between 14.8 degrees Celsius and 17.3 degrees Celsius, remaining below normal at most stations.
Safdarjung recorded a maximum of 17.3 degrees Celsius, Palam 15.9 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road 15.8 degrees Celsius, Ridge 16.6 degrees Celsius, while Ayanagar logged the lowest maximum temperature at 14.8 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures ranged between 9 and 10.6 degrees Celsius, with Palam recording 9 degrees Celsius and Ayanagar 10.3 degrees Celsius.
IMD scientist Naresh Kumar explained that an active western disturbance over north Pakistan triggered light to moderate rain and snowfall over the western Himalayan region, with very light rainfall also occurring over the NCR. Low temperatures, light winds and high moisture levels have allowed fog to persist and cold conditions to linger.
Delhi also recorded its coldest December day in six years on December 31, with the maximum temperature plunging to 14.2 degrees Celsius, about 6.2 degrees below normal. The last colder day was recorded on December 31, 2019, when the maximum temperature dropped to 9.4 degrees Celsius.