Delhi recorded its coldest February day in four years on Monday as dense fog blanketed parts of the Capital in the early hours, intensifying the chill and sharply reducing visibility. The low visibility prompted Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport to issue an advisory warning passengers of possible flight delays.
Meteorologists attributed the ongoing fog spell to a strong Western Disturbance, which has brought together dense fog, unseasonal rainfall and gusty winds across the region. Disruptions were reported at major transit points, including IGI Airport and multiple railway stations, as shallow to moderate fog lingered well beyond sunrise. The weather event follows an unusually dry winter, particularly marked by reduced snowfall over the Western Himalayas.
Light rainfall across parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), combined with calm overnight winds led to the formation of dense fog on Monday. In response, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) initially issued a red alert during the early morning hours, which was later downgraded to a yellow alert, currently in effect for the day.
According to the IMD, fog developed due to stable atmospheric conditions following overnight rainfall. Elevated moisture levels, along with very weak surface winds, caused cooler air to remain trapped near the ground, leading to condensation and fog formation. Forecasts indicate that moderate fog may persist until February 8, with no additional weather warnings beyond Tuesday. While daytime temperatures are expected to rise gradually, reaching around 23 degrees Celsius by the end of the week, night temperatures are likely to stay low.
Data from the city’s base weather station at Safdarjung showed a maximum temperature of 17.5 degrees Celsius, which is 4.8 degrees below normal and the lowest February maximum recorded since February 3, 2022, when the temperature had dropped to 14.4 degrees Celsius.
The city remained partly cloudy throughout the day, with dense fog in the morning hours cutting visibility to 100 metres at both Safdarjung and Palam.
