Delhi Fog & Rain Bring Brief Air Quality Relief, IMD Forecasts Chilly Days

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi-NCR on Saturday will generally have a cloudy sky, moderate fog in the morning, and strong surface winds (speeds of 10-20 kmph).

A fall in minimum temperatures of 5-6°C is expected over the next three days, followed by a rise thereafter. Consequently, minimum temperatures are likely to be normal (-1.5°C to 1.5°C) during the next 3 days, above normal (1.6°C to 3.0°C) on 27 & 29. Temperature expected to be appreciably below normal (-3.1°C to -5.0°C) on 23 and 24 January 2026. Partly cloudy skies on 25 & 26 January 2026, and generally cloudy skies on 23, 24, 27, and 29, with shallow to moderate fog likely during the morning hours for the next 06 days.

Meanwhile, light rain and a thunderstorm in the national capital on Friday brought slight relief from pollution as the air quality remained in the "poor" category, with the AQI recorded at 297 at 7 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

There was a marginal improvement compared to Thursday morning, when the AQI was in the 'very poor' category at 312.

Several parts of the national capital continued to experience poor air quality, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 317, Ashok Vihar 335, Wazirpur 351, Punjabi Bagh 326, RK Puram 315, Bawana 342, ITO 266, Chandni Chowk 326, and Dwarka Sector 8 at 316, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Meanwhile, the temperature in the city on Friday was around 16.4 degrees Celsius at 7 am, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

As per AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'.

- ANI