New Delhi:

Dense fog engulfed Delhi and NCR on Saturday morning, prompting the Indira Gandhi International Airport and airlines to issue and advisory. IndiGo said flight schedules will be impacted, advising travellers to plan their travel accordingly.

The temperature as of 8.30 am was 11.3 degrees Celsius. As per FlightRadar24, the average delay in departures was at 26 minutes.

Delhi wrapped up a rather warm January with Friday’s maximum temperature reaching 27 degrees Celsius, making it the city’s warmest day in the month since 2019.

The month’s average maximum temperature was 21.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above the long-period average of 20.1 degrees Celsius, marking it as Delhi’s warmest January since 2019.

Meteorologists attributed the warmer-than-usual January to the absence of strong western disturbances, which typically bring rain, lowering the temperature.

Many parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir were also enveloped with dense fog, as per  the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Forecasts suggest Delhi’s air will continue to hover in the ‘very poor’ category until February 3, with slight improvements expected thereafter.

New Delhi:

Dense fog blanketed Delhi-NCR on Sunday, leading to significant disruptions in train schedules across multiple routes and challenging travel conditions for commuters. The city woke up to foggy weather with a temperature of 10 degrees Celcius, as visibility remained severely reduced.

Railway authorities are working to ensure passenger safety, but delays persisted throughout the morning.

A total of 47 trains originating from Delhi were impacted, with 41 running late — some by over three hours. Notable delays were observed in trains such as the KIR-ASR Express, Lichchavi Express, Gorkhdham Express, Purushottam Express, Mahabodhi Express, Malwa Express, and Dakshin Express. Additionally, the schedules of six trains were revised to accommodate the disruptions.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported dense fog across Delhi and NCR, with the cold spell likely to persist.

Moderate foggy conditions are expected until January 21, followed by light rain or thundershowers on January 22 and 23. Morning temperatures are forecasted to range between 7 degrees Celcius and 12 degrees Celcius, while daytime temperatures may hover between 18 degrees Celcius and 21 degrees Celcius.

Travellers departing from major stations such as New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin have been advised to stay updated on train schedules through official railway apps and station announcements to minimise inconvenience.

In addition to affecting train services, the dense fog has exacerbated Delhi’s air quality.

The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 335, categorised as ‘very poor’ according to the Sameer app, a sharp decline from Saturday’s reading of 248.

While air quality has been fluctuating, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently lifted Stage-III curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to an earlier improvement in AQI levels.

The cold weather has also driven many homeless individuals to seek refuge in night shelters, with authorities closely monitoring the situation to ensure adequate provisions are in place.

Beyond the capital, dense to very dense fog is expected to persist in parts of Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, and eastern Uttar Pradesh during the night and early morning, disrupting travel in these regions. Northern Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will remain under a cold spell, with maximum temperatures staying below average through the weekend.

Meanwhile, southern states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh are experiencing intermittent rainfall. Coastal Tamil Nadu is likely to witness isolated thunderstorms, with rainfall intensity peaking over the weekend, especially in the southern districts.

With winter conditions intensifying, authorities across affected regions continue to take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the weather on daily life.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Dense fog engulfed parts of the national capital on Wednesday, marking the season’s first intense fog spell lasting three hours, which disrupted the schedules of over 100 flights and 26 trains due to low visibility.

The fog significantly reduced visibility during the morning hours, improved slightly in between and then once again shrouded the city as evening approached.

“Delhi experienced very dense fog on the morning of January 15, with visibility dropping to zero at Safdarjung and IGI Airport from 8:30 am, persisting until 11:30 am,” the IMD stated.

“This was the season’s first instance of dense fog, and CAT-III operations extended beyond 9:30 am, with RVR at IGI Airport runways ranging between 75-300 meters during the peak fog period,” it added.

By 12:30 pm, visibility had slightly improved to 250 meters at Safdarjung andd 400 meters at IGI Airport (Palam), with moderate fog prevailing at that time.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Delhi, with dense to very dense fog reported in several areas.

An orange alert is issued for bad weather that can disrupt rail and road services.

The minimum temperature dropped to 6 degrees Celsius, 1.4 degrees below normal, while the maximum temperature was recorded at 18.1 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees below normal.

The weather department advised caution, saying, “Drivers should use fog lights and exercise extreme care while on the road. Travellers should stay in touch with airlines, railways, and state transport authorities for updates on schedules.” The IMD had also predicted light rain or drizzle during the day.

The humidity level fluctuated between 97 per cent and 95 per cent.

For Thursday, the weather department has predicted cloudy skies with light rain and dense fog conditions. The minimum temperature is expected to settle around 10 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is likely to hover around 17 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the 24-hour air quality average in the city stood in the “very poor” category, with a reading of 386.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Delhi Airport had earlier warned fliers to stay updated about their flights.

New Delhi:

According to the India Meteorological Department, dense fog conditions are very likely in the Delhi/NCR region and an orange alert was issued regarding the same.

Air quality monitoring stations in Delhi have reported concerning pollution levels across the city. According to CPCB data, the AQI of the national capital recorded 285.

As per recent data, the air quality index (AQI) at Jahangirpuri recorded a high of 346, while Nehru Nagar registered an alarming 345. Patparganj reported an AQI of 344, closely followed by North Campus, Delhi University, at 314.

Similarly, Narela and Mandir Marg recorded AQI levels of 313 and 308, respectively. Mundka showed an AQI of 297, with Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 293. Lodhi Road reported moderate levels, with readings of 233 (IMD) and 181 (IITM). NSIT Dwarka recorded a relatively lower AQI of 125.

An AQI rating is categorized as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), and 401-500 (severe).

Several trains were delayed due to foggy weather conditions today, while some trains have also been cancelled. The Purushottam Express experienced the longest delay of 311 minutes, followed by the Poorva Express, which was delayed by 198 minutes. The Shramjeevi Express and JBP NZM SF Express reported delays of 197 minutes and 187 minutes, respectively.

Other affected trains included the Rajendra Nagar Patna Tejas Express (124 minutes), YPR Dee Duronto Express (154 minutes), and Suhaildev Express (105 minutes).

The NDLS Humsafar and Kaifiyat Express were delayed by 107 minutes and 68 minutes, respectively. Additionally, the Gondwana Express and YPR Sampark Kranti Express reported delays of 92 minutes and 91 minutes, while the MP Sampark Kranti Express faced a 65-minute delay.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Taj Mahal is covered in a thin layer of fog as the cold wave grips the city.

On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked Stage-III measures under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), following an improvement in Delhi’s air quality.

This comes after the Delhi-NCR received rainfall on Saturday evening.

However, actions under Stage I and Stage II remain in effect, with authorities emphasising vigilance to prevent further deterioration.

The decision was made after the Sub-Committee on GRAP reviewed the current air quality index (AQI) levels and forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A thick blanket of smog continued to envelop Delhi and its adjoining National Capital Region (NCR) for the second consecutive day, with the air quality remaining ‘severe’ on Saturday. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, the air quality index (AQI) breached the 400 mark.

The visibility across the national capital dropped between zero and 200, likely disrupting flight operations.

The Delhi Airport issued an advisory for passengers today morning saying, “Low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information.”

However, it added, “While landings and take-offs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.”

Update issued at 06:00 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#DelhiAirport #FogAlert pic.twitter.com/oY6vMpch0t

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 11, 2025

At least 26 trains are running late today, officials said.

Over 100 flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Friday, while at least 30 trains were running late.

Visuals show the national capital covered in a blanket of smog.

#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

#WATCH | A dense fog envelops parts of Delhi-NCR

(Visuals from Akshardham area) pic.twitter.com/QX2BGSNOoM

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025

Amid the worsening air quality, the Centre’s panel on Delhi-NCR’s air quality re-imposed Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Under GRAP-3, private BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles have been banned. According to the government, violators will face penalties under Section 194(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, which translates to a fine of Rs 20,000.

Heavy rain likely today

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in Delhi over the weekend. According to the weather department, thunderstorms and lightning with dense fog will likely prevail over the national capital on Saturday and Sunday.

“Dense to very dense fog is likely at isolated places over east Uttar Pradesh, dense fog at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and west Uttar Pradesh,” it added.

New Delhi:

Dense fog enveloped parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) this morning, reducing visibility to zero and delaying more than 150 flights and about 26 trains.

Flight delays averaged 41 minutes, aviation website FlightRadar24 said.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), in an update this morning, said the flight departures have been “impacted” due to dense fog.

#WATCH | Visibility reduced to zero as a blanket of dense fog witnessed in parts of Delhi-NCR

(Visuals from Rajokri area) pic.twitter.com/Pw89P7oavt

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2025

The DIAL, however, reassured travellers that CAT III-compliant flights can land and depart from the airport. 

Update issued at 05:52 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#DelhiAirport #FogUpdate pic.twitter.com/XULkxIr9nh

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 10, 2025

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a moderate to very dense fog warning for many parts of North India, including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Hundreds of flights and trains have been cancelled or delayed due to thick fog in the past few weeks in North India.

The capital’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 408 around 6 am, dropping to the ‘severe’ category from ‘very poor’, according to the data on the Central Pollution Control Board website.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

According to the IMD, Delhi’s minimum temperature was recorded at 9.6 degrees Celsius.

The weather agency said the capital’s maximum and minimum temperatures would hover between 6 and 20 degrees Celsius on Friday.

Grap Stage 3 In Delhi-NCR

The Centre’s panel on Delhi-NCR’s air quality on Thursday re-implemented stage 3 curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) amid a sharp rise in air pollution levels owing to unfavourable meteorological conditions.

Delhi’s air pollution levels showed an increasing trend with the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) clocking 357 at 4 pm on Thursday, up from 297 on Wednesday.

The Commission for Air Quality Management, responsible for strategising air pollution mitigation in Delhi-NCR, directed authorities in the region to immediately implement curbs prescribed under stage 3 to prevent further worsening of the situation.

GRAP Stage 3, revoked on Sunday, entails a ban on non-essential construction work.

Classes up to grade V are required to shift to hybrid mode under Stage 3. Parents and students have the option to choose online education wherever available.

Under Stage 3, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars (4-wheelers) are restricted in Delhi and nearby NCR districts. Persons with disabilities are exempt.

Stage 3 also bans non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards in the national capital.

During winters, the Delhi-NCR region enforces restrictions under GRAP, which categorises air quality into four stages – Stage I (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage II (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage III (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage IV (Severe Plus, AQI above 450).

New Delhi:

A blanket of fog continued to cover parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) this morning, reducing visibility and affecting flight and train operations for the third straight day.

Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were hit, with delays reported for aircraft not equipped with advanced CAT III navigation systems.

General visibility at the airport was zero at 7:30 am.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), in an update issued around 7 am, reassured travellers that landings and takeoffs were ongoing, but cautioned that non-CAT III-compliant flights might face delays.

Update issued at 06:55 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #FogAlert #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/g67ls6Eweg

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 5, 2025

Several trains also reported significant delays at New Delhi Railway Station due to near-zero visibility.

#WATCH | Delhi: As cold waves grip the national capital, several trains running late at New Delhi railway station due to fog

(Visuals from New Delhi Railway station) pic.twitter.com/eGD8SnaIsC

— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2025

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for dense fog during the morning hours, warning of reduced visibility across the city.

Delhi Sees Season’s Longest Zero Visibility Spell

Earlier Saturday, dense fog enveloped the national capital and reduced visibility to zero for an unprecedented nine-hour stretch, the longest spell of the season.

The city’s primary weather station, Safdarjung, recorded eight hours of zero visibility, as per the IMD.

According to officials, it also led to the delay of 81 trains while 15 flights got diverted.

The maximum temperature in the city settled at 20 degrees Celsius, 0.7 notch above average and the minimum temperature was recorded at 7.8 degrees Celsius, 0.9 notch above the normal, the IMD said.

The air quality also continued in the ‘very poor’ category this morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI was at 377.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 and 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 and 300 ‘poor,’ 301 and 400 ‘very poor,’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe.’

New Delhi:

Delhi is witnessing dense fog for the second consecutive day on Saturday, prompting the airport to state in an advisory that flights that are not CAT III compliant might get affected. At the Indira Gandhi International Airport, departure delays of an average of 37 minutes were witnessed as on 8 am, as per FlightRadar 24. Almost 100 flights were delayed, while six Delhi-bound flights were diverted. On Friday, more than 400 flights were delayed due to bad weather conditions at the airport.

What Is CAT III

CAT III is an Instrument Landing System (ILS) which aids planes in landing in extremely poor visibility conditions, providing pilots ground-based radio navigation about the aircraft’s runway alignment and glide path. The system employs two radio beams that offer horizontal and vertical assistance during landing.

CAT III A system permits landing of aircraft upto Runway Visual Range (RVR) not less than 200 meters. CAT III B permits landing of aircraft when RVR is less than 200 meters but not less than 50 meters, while CAT III C allows landing in zero visibility conditions. These conditions include those arising out of snow, rain, or in Delhi’s case, fog.

Also Read | Unsure How To Drive Safely In Fog? Here Are Our 5 Tips

Apart from horizontal and vertical guidance, CAT III also provides data on approach trajectory and touchdown zone. Further, guidance is also given regarding the distance left to the runway, when to deploy flaps and apply brakes.

The CAT II system guides the aircraft in the event that the RVR is not less than 350 metres, while a CAT I system assists landing for a RVR of over 550 metres. The RVR is the distance till which the pilot can see the runway’s lights or markers.

Which Indian Airports Are CAT III Compliant?

There are six airports in India where the runways are certified for CAT III B operations – Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Amritsar, Bengaluru and Kolkata.

CAT III A system was first installed on runway 28 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport in year 2001 and was upgraded to CAT III B ILS with Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (ASMGCS) in 2005 at a cost of Rs 55 crores.

Apart from an airport runway being compliant to a CAT category, landing under the said category is also dependent on flight equipment and pilot training.

No Indian airport is CAT III C complaint yet. The system is in application at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and London’s Heathrow Airport.

New Delhi:

Dense fog enveloped various parts of North India, bringing visibility and temperatures down and impacting train and flight operations.

As per the past 24 hours data of the IMD, Delhi witnessed a maximum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius, a departure of three degrees below normal and and minimum of 7.6 degrees Celsius. Delhi is expected to witness fog till January 8, with light rain likely on January 6. The temperature in Delhi as of Friday morning was 9.6 degrees Celsius, making it the fifth cold day in a row for the National Capital.

As per the CPCB, the Air Quality Index is at 309 at the Lodhi Road station, categorised as ‘Very Poor’.

#WATCH | Delhi: Dense fog engulfs the national capital as cold wave grips the city.

(Visuals from Akshardham) pic.twitter.com/ePXNPWLPGO

— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2025

Flights of many airlines, including SpiceJet, Indigo and Air India, were affected even as the Delhi airport reported an average delay of five minutes for arrival flights and 11 minutes for departure flights, as per FlightRadar24.

While SpiceJet said all flights coming in and going to Amritsar and Guwahati are affected due to bad weather, IndiGo issued a travel advisory with special focus on the Delhi, Amritsar, Lucknow, Bengaluru and Guwahati routes.

Airlines urged travellers to check flight schedules while planning their journey, while also warning that flights might be cancelled if the visibility remains poor.

Update issued at 06:35 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #FogAlert #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/IAEHvyua0w

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 3, 2025

Meanwhile, train departing from and arriving in Delhi are also running late, while some route are being operated with changed timings.

Dense fog is expected to remain over Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar and Guwahati on Friday. The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Nowcast warning for dense to very dense fog has been issued for Delhi, Rajasthan’s Kota, Bundi, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Sri Ganganagar and Tonk, Punjab’s Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Kapurthala, and Haryana’s Kurukshetra, Amabal, Panchkula and Yamunanagar. Meanwhile, light rain and snow is expected in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

#WATCH | Delhi | People take the help of a bonfire to keep themselves warm as mercury dips in the National Capital.

(Visuals from Lodhi Road) pic.twitter.com/wBdXno8IkK

— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2025

A “cold day” is when the minimum temperature is under 10 degrees Celsius and the highest or lowest temperature is at least 4.5 degrees lower than what is considered normal for a specific period.

Amid cold wave conditions, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration ordered suspension of classes till 8 in all schools of the district until further orders. The Met has predicted a low of 8 degrees Celsius on Friday.