Delhi Witnesses Coldest Day This Winter, IMD Issues Red & Yellow Alert In North India

Over the next three to four days, severe to extremely dense fog is expected in portions of northwest India throughout the early hours, according to the IMD.

The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) said that the national capital Delhi saw the coldest morning of the year on Saturday, 13 January, with a minimum temperature of 3.6 degrees Celsius and dense fog blanketing various portions of the city, news agency ANI reported. In addition, the meteorological service issued a red alert for a cold wave in Delhi. According to the IMD, a red alert has been issued in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, and a yellow alert has been issued in Rajasthan due to chilly and foggy weather.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that "cold" to "severe cold day" conditions persisted in numerous areas throughout Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan. Over the next three to four days, severe to extremely dense fog is expected in portions of northwest India throughout the early hours, according to the IMD.

On Friday morning, about 100 flights were delayed as visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport plummeted to 0 metres owing to the onset of severe fog. According to Delhi airport officials, no flights were diverted or cancelled. Met authorities stated that the CAT III protocols were strictly enforced at the airport, TOI reported.

Maximum temperatures remained in the 10-20 degree Celsius range, with Amritsar in Punjab recording 9.4 degrees Celsius, over nine degrees below average.

When the minimum temperature is less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius below normal and the highest temperature is at least 4.5 degrees Celsius below normal, it is considered a chilly day. A severe cold day occurs when the highest temperature is 6.5 degrees Celsius or lower than average.

A cold wave blasted across Delhi, with the city's major meteorological station, Safdarjung observatory, registering the season's lowest minimum temperature of 3.9 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature in the capital was 19.3 degrees Celsius.

Ambala in Haryana reported 11 degrees Celsius, seven degrees below average, while Ludhiana and Patiala in Punjab recorded 11.4 and 12.1 degrees Celsius, respectively, six degrees below normal.

The temperature at Ganganagar, Rajasthan, was 12.7 degrees Celsius, which was seven degrees below usual for the season. The highest temperature at Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, was 12.7 degrees Celsius, almost six degrees below usual.

Since December 30-31, various portions of north India have experienced cold day to severe cold day weather.

A layer of fog stretched over the Indo-Gangetic plains in the morning and persisted up to the northeast, reducing visibility and impeding train operations.

According to an Indian Railways representative, the fog disrupted the timetable of "23 trains arriving in Delhi."

A layer of fog or low-level clouds was seen across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, stretching up to northeast India, according to satellite images.

Over Odisha, there were also patches of fog.

Visibility decreased to nil in Delhi's Palam observatory, near the Indira Gandhi International airport, according to the IMD.

According to an IMD officer, one could see up to 200 metres away at the Safdarjung airport.

Visibility dropped to 25 metres in Amritsar, Punjab, and Lucknow and Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 50 metres in Chandigarh, Bareilly, Purnia, Bihar, and Tezpur, Assam, and 200 metres in Ambala and Ganganagar.

According to the IMD, extremely deep fog occurs when visibility is between zero and 50 metres, dense fog occurs when visibility is between 51 and 200 metres, moderate fog occurs when visibility is between 201 and 500 metres, and shallow fog occurs when visibility is between 501 and 1,000 metres.