A thick blanket of fog continued to shroud parts of Delhi on Monday, January 19. The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow warning for moderate to dense fog during the early hours. The IMD forecast a partly cloudy sky for the day.
Weather Conditions in Delhi-NCR
The IMD's daily weather bulletin predicted moderate fog at many places with dense fog at isolated spots in the morning. Temperatures in Delhi are expected to range from a minimum of 7-9°C to a maximum of 24-26°C on Monday. This follows Sunday's readings where the minimum temperature settled at 5.3°C and the maximum reached 22.7°C.
Upcoming Rainfall and Snowfall Predictions
The IMD anticipates heavy rainfall and snowfall in parts of the country around January 23. Two Western Disturbances will affect the Western Himalayan region in quick succession next week. Isolated heavy rainfall and snowfall are likely on January 23.
Detailed Forecast for Northern Regions
The IMD provided specific predictions for various states:
- Isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall and snowfall over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh from January 18 to 21.
- Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and snowfall from January 22 to 24. Isolated heavy falls expected over Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad and higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh on January 23.
- Isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall and snowfall likely over Uttarakhand on January 18, 21, and 22. Fairly widespread activity predicted for January 23-24.
- Isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan during January 22-24.
- Thunderstorm activity is likely over Uttarakhand on January 23 and 24. Similar conditions expected over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Rajasthan on January 22 and 23.
The IMD also mentioned very light rain or drizzle accompanied by strong surface winds reaching 20-30 kmph on January 23, 2026.
Severe Air Pollution in Delhi
Delhi's Air Quality Index entered the severe category early Monday. The overall AQI was recorded at 418. Authorities have implemented restrictions under GRAP-4 in the national capital as the city struggles with a severe air pollution crisis.
The Central Pollution Control Board reported an AQI of 439 at 7 am on Sunday. The situation deteriorated overnight from Saturday. The AQI measured 432 at 10 pm on Saturday, placing it in the severe category before worsening further by Sunday morning.
News agency PTI reported that Delhi's AQI is expected to remain in the very poor range from Monday till January 21. A lower ventilation index of 6000 units and average wind speeds of 10 kmph are not favorable for dispersing pollutants.
Record Pollution Levels
Delhi experienced its most polluted January day in two years on Sunday. The Hindustan Times reported that the city's AQI plunged deeper into the severe zone, marking the worst air quality in the second half of January since 2019.
The CPCB's daily bulletin recorded an AQI of 440 at 4 pm on Sunday. This reading was significantly worse than Saturday's 400 and the highest for the month since January 14, 2024, when it reached 447.
This period marks the first time the AQI has remained at 400 or above for two consecutive days since late January 2016. All previous peak readings in January, including the all-time high of 460 on January 15, 2021, occurred in the first half of the month. Delhi did not record a single severe air day in January last year.
Sunday also represented Delhi's first severe air quality day of the year and the first since December 29, 2025, when the reading was 401. According to the Times of India, it was the second-worst day this winter after a peak of 461 on December 14.
