Delhi’s air quality remained in the “very poor” category, while a layer of fog gripped the national capital, affecting several flights and flight operations.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board,
the AQI in Dhaula Kuan recorded 322. Several key monitoring stations across the city reported AQI levels in the “very poor” range. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 350, Rohini 361, Chandni Chowk 355, Mundka 329, and RK Puram 322, while ITO registered an AQI of 309, ANI reported.
However, the air quality was comparatively better at NSIT Dwarka and the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, both recording an AQI of 177, placing them in the “moderate” category.
#WATCH | Delhi: Several flights delayed and flight operations affected as a layer of fog grips the national capital.
(Visuals from IGI airport) pic.twitter.com/w2RsuH4Mvm
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2026
However, the Republic Day parade rehearsals continued at India Gate despite smoggy conditions.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of around 9 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning. The IMD has forecast Sunday’s maximum temperature to hover between 18°C and 19°C, while the minimum is likely to range from 7°C to 8°C.
#WATCH | Visuals from Dhaula Kuan in New Delhi. AQI in the area is ‘322’ in the ‘very poor’ category as claimed by CPCB. pic.twitter.com/wwRWuJZrMS
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2026
According to the weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cold wave is set to intensify across North India. Several parts of the country will witness dense fog and cold wave on January 4. However, the skies will be clear during the daytime.
“Dense to Very dense fog conditions very likely to continue during night/morning hours over North India during next 7 days,” IMD stated.
Owing to the adverse weather, IMD has issued a yellow alert in Delhi for dense fog on Sunday. Alongside, the meteorological station on Saturday issued a yellow warning of dense fog at isolated places in seven districts of Himachal Pradesh in the coming week.
The weather department predicted light snowfall at isolated places in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts on January 6 and issued a yellow warning of dense fog at isolated places in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur districts in the morning hours from January 4 to 7.
IMD issued the weather forecast of the week on X and stated, “Dense to Very dense fog conditions very likely to continue during night/morning hours at many/some places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh till 7th; over West Uttar Pradesh till 5th; over East Uttar Pradesh till 8th; over East Rajasthan till 4th; over Odisha till 6th January, 2026.”
It further added, “Cold day conditions very likely at isolated pockets over Uttarakhand on 3rd & 4th; over Uttar Pradesh, west Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on 3rd; over Bihar during 3rd – 5th January, 2026.”
For Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi, IMD forecasted cold weather till January 7. Over west Rajasthan during January 5 and 8; over east Rajasthan during Jan 4 to 8.
For Delhi, the weather office said cold wave conditions are likely to affect isolated places between January 4 and January 7.
