Delhi is waking up to a proper white-out. As of Friday, January 2, 2026, the city is wrapped in a fog so thick it’s basically paralyzed the morning commute.
The thing is, we’ve moved from “chilly” straight into “cold wave” territory. Or nothing. Let’s be real, when the minimum temperature at Safdarjung hits 9.1°C and the IMD is putting out alerts till January 5, it’s time to find the heavy woolens. Those too.
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The “Winter Chill” Log: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the thermometer just keeps sliding.
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The Lows: Today’s 9.1°C is just the start. Places like Ayanagar already dipped to 8.1°C this morning.
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The Forecast: Expect a “cold wave” (where temperatures are 4.5°C to 6.5°C below normal) to linger through Monday, January 5.
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The “Zero Visibility” Problem: Dense to “very dense” fog is expected to haunt the city every night and early morning for the next few days.
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Transit Chaos: Sky and Rail
And here’s the kicker: the fog isn’t just a mood; it’s a logistics nightmare.
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Flights: Over 150 flights were canceled or delayed at IGI Airport this morning as visibility dropped to 500 meters (and much lower in patches). IndiGo and Air India have already issued “travel advisories” warning of cascading delays.
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Trains: More than 82 trains coming into or leaving Delhi are running late—some by as much as 6 to 8 hours. The New Delhi Railway Station is basically a sea of blankets right now.
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The Air We’re Breathing
While the fog is thick, the air is “marginal” but still toxic.
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AQI Check: We’re at 302 (Very Poor). It’s a slight improvement from yesterday’s 380, but don’t let the numbers fool you.
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Hotspots: NSIT Dwarka is currently the “black lung” of the city with an AQI of 423 (Severe).
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The Outlook: The Early Warning System says we’re stuck in this “Very Poor” bracket for at least another six days. The low wind speed is just keeping all the gunk trapped right at nose-level.
Basically, if you don’t have to be out before 10 AM, stay inside. The combination of the “cold day” (max temp only hitting around 18°C) and the smog is a brutal mix for anyone with a cough.
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End…
