Delhi is literally disappearing into a grey wall this morning. As of Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the city is under a “Yellow” alert for dense fog, but don’t let the slight AQI improvement fool you. While we’ve “improved” from “Severe” (401) to “Very Poor” (388), parts of the city are still recording hazardous numbers.
The thing is, the “improvement” is just a statistical quirk. Or nothing. Let’s be real, an AQI of 388 is still a health emergency for most. Those too. And here’s the kicker: the relief is going to be short-lived because New Year’s Day is looking like a total toxic washout.
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The “Blind” Tuesday Morning
Visibility has been the biggest headline today.
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Safdarjung: Dropped to 100 meters early morning.
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Palam: Stuck around 300 meters.
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The Fallout: Over 118 flights were cancelled and 200+ delayed at IGI Airport. On the tracks, over 100 trains across the Northern Railways are running hours behind schedule.
Hotspots & Health Warnings
While the city average is 388, the ground reality in specific neighborhoods is much grimmer.
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Jahangirpuri & Anand Vihar: Both hit 451 (Severe) this morning.
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The “Toxic Soup”: Humidity is near 100%. When you combine that with zero wind, the pollution just hangs there at head height.
The New Year Forecast: A “Severe” Start
It’s an ongoing situation where the weather is basically conspiring against any celebration plans.
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Wednesday (Dec 31): Likely to stay in the “Very Poor” range. Shallow fog and faint sun.
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Thursday (Jan 1, 2026): The Air Quality Early Warning System predicts a drop back into the “Severe” category.
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The Rain Factor: There’s a Western Disturbance coming. We might see light drizzle on January 1, which could wash away some dust, but usually, the increased moisture just makes the fog even thicker (smog).
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School & Travel Status
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Schools: While UP and Bihar have shut schools until Jan 1, the Delhi government hasn’t announced a general holiday yet. However, many private schools have already preponed their winter breaks.
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Orange Alert: The IMD has kept an “Orange” alert active for the rest of the day, so expect the “very dense fog” to return by late evening.
If you’re planning to travel for New Year’s, check your flight status every hour. Carriers like IndiGo and Air India have already warned that the “cascading delays” from this morning will likely mess up flight schedules well into Wednesday.
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