New Delhi, 25 Jan (UNI) Strong northwesterly winds, driven by fresh snowfall in the upper Himalayas, swept through Delhi on Sunday, improving air quality but intensifying cold conditions as minimum temperatures dipped.
At noon, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) plunged to 149 while remaining in the moderate category, improving marginally from the previous day’s readings of 192, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Sunday’s values were the lowest the city has witnessed in January in the last 4 years. AQI readings had dropped to 69 on January 9, 2022.
Frosty winds also dipped the minimum temperature in Delhi, returning bone-chilling cold conditions across the city as mercury plunged to 6.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
“Northwesterly winds prevailed with speed up to 17 kmph past 24 hours over Delhi,” said the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The cold spell is likely to be short-lived, with the likelihood of the minimum dropping by 1-2 °C during the next 24 hours, as predicted by the weather department. The temperatures are likely to surge by 5-6°C during the subsequent two days and fall by 2-4°C thereafter.
According to IMD officials, an intense Western Disturbance is set to affect the Western Himalayan region from 26-28 January 2026, bringing light to moderate rainfall at many places, with isolated heavy rain/snowfall and hailstorm likely on January 27.
Under the spell of a fresh western disturbance, Shallow to moderate fog is likely to shroud the Kartavya Path Area for the Republic Day Celebrations, during the morning hours, according to the forecast from IMD.
