People are experiencing a cold wave in Delhi, which is causing its air quality to plummet to ‘very poor’ levels. The city is blanketed in a biting winter chill and stagnant weather, which is trapping air pollution and prompting warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The residents of Delhi are waking up to freezing temperatures, thick morning fog, and a persistent layer of smog that is keeping the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the ‘very poor’ range, posing a threat to public health across the region.

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Cold Wave Deepens Chill Across the Capital

The IMD reports that minimum temperatures are dropping to around 4.2°C, making it one of the coldest spells recently, and is expected to continue into early January. Thick fog has covered much of Delhi in the early hours, leading the IMD to issue a yellow alert for moderate to heavy fog, reducing visibility and making travel difficult for commuters.

Some light rain has fallen in parts of the city, adding to the cold, but it hasn’t done much to clear the air. Instead, the moisture is combining with the cold temperatures to trap pollutants near the ground, making the smog worse and degrading the air quality.

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Air Quality Index Remains in ‘Very Poor’ Category

The overall AQI readings are consistently in the ‘very poor’ range as Delhi’s air quality remains poor, often exceeding 300 at many monitoring stations, and areas like Nehru Nagar and Dwarka Sector 8 are recording high pollution levels, which means that the problem is widespread.

During the cold waves, the weak winds and temperature inversions prevent pollutants from dispersing, which allows particulate matter and other contaminants to build up near ground level. Health experts are warning that this continued poor air quality is increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

The combination of the cold wave, thick fog, and very poor AQI is disrupting daily life in Delhi, reducing visibility on major roads and at Indira Gandhi International Airport, leading to travel warnings for commuters and passengers.

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Forecast and Outlook

The dense fog and stagnant air will stick around for the next few days, according to meteorologists, keeping the pollution levels high as the cold wave in Delhi continues. While a slight warming trend might eventually help to disperse the pollutants, residents should expect smoggy conditions to continue.

Vulnerable people, including children, the elderly, and those with existing respiratory issues, are advised by doctors to limit the time they spend outside. Public health advisories stress the importance of wearing masks, using air purifiers indoors, and reducing physical activity outdoors, as there are no signs of the pollution levels improving quickly.

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