Delhi Weather Update: Thunderstorms and rain forecasted as dense fog disrupts flights and trains

In a tweet, the Delhi Airport assured that flight operations were proceeding as normal but cautioned that flights not compliant with Category III (CAT III) procedures might face delays.

Delhi and its surrounding areas were enveloped by dense fog on Saturday morning, causing significant disruptions to flight and train services as the national capital continued to experience cold wave conditions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert, predicting thunderstorms and rain for the day. The IMD also warned of a drop in maximum temperatures by at least three degrees, with cloudy skies expected throughout the day.

#WATCH | Visibility reduced to zero as a blanket of dense fog witnessed in parts of Delhi-NCR(Visuals from Subroto Park) pic.twitter.com/D2oxrkvaSZ

ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025

Flight and Train Disruptions

At Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), more than 100 flights were delayed due to the low visibility caused by the dense fog. The airport issued advisories urging passengers to check with their airlines for real-time updates on flight timings. Train services were similarly impacted, with several delays reported across major routes.

The IMD also issued a fog alert for Delhi and surrounding regions, predicting dense to very dense fog (visibility less than 50 meters) in most parts of Punjab, and some areas of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. The weather department noted moderate to dense fog at most locations, with very dense fog at isolated places during the early morning and morning hours.

Delhi’s Temperature and Weather Conditions

The minimum temperature in Delhi recorded a slight increase on Friday morning, reaching 11°C, thanks to an active western disturbance. On January 9, Delhi had experienced a significant drop in temperature, with the mercury touching 6.4°C at 5:30 am, as cold wave conditions and inclement weather gripped the city. The temperature during the early morning hours over the past few days had been hovering between 8°C and 11°C.

Air Quality Worsens

The air quality in the national capital deteriorated further, reaching ‘severe’ levels on Saturday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was measured at 401, categorizing it as ‘severe.’ The AQI scale classifies scores between 0-50 as 'good,' 51-100 as 'satisfactory,' 101-200 as 'moderate,' 201-300 as 'poor,' 301-400 as 'very poor,' and scores between 401-500 as ‘severe.’

Airport Updates

In a tweet, the Delhi Airport assured that flight operations were proceeding as normal but cautioned that flights not compliant with Category III (CAT III) procedures might face delays. "Passengers are advised to contact the airline for updated flight information," the airport said. In an update around 6 am, the airport further warned that landings and take-offs were continuing, but visibility concerns could affect some flights.