New Delhi: The national capital woke up to dense fog on Wednesday morning. Even as Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 7 degree Celsius this morning. The fog triggered traffic snarls at several places across the city in the wee hours today. Besides, due to low visibility in the Northern Railway region, rail traffic has been significantly impacted with trains running at a delay of at least four to five hours.  As many as 22 trains are running late today.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi-NCR may not see relief from the winter chills anytime soon, as another Western Disturbance is likely in the last week of the month that will further bring down the mercury. Besides, the weather department had already predicted dense fog for the city for today.

Watch | Dense fog in Delhi delays trains



However, repeated Western Disturbances caused the temperature to go down further even in January. Another western disturbance is expected around January 27-28, which will further bring down the temperature.

On January 28, the National Capital Region might witness light rains. Foggy conditions will also prevail during that time.

Earlier, Delhi's mean maximum temperature (MMT) for December stood at 18.76 degrees Celsius, the second-lowest after 17.3 degrees Celsius recorded in December 1997.

December had recorded 18 consecutive "cold days" or an 18-day "cold spell", the maximum after 17 cold days in December 1997.

"Only four times the mean maximum temperature for December has remained equal to or less than 20 degrees Celsius -- 1919, 1929, 1961 and 1997," an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said.

The MMT for December was 19.8 degrees Celsius in 1919 and 1929, while it was 20 degrees Celsius in 1962, the official said.

(with inpuits from agencies)