Delhi NCR Weather Update: Foggy Mornings Continue, Light Rain Likely on January 23

Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to hazardous air quality on Tuesday, with the AQI soaring to 675 as a dense layer of smog engulfed the region, sharply reducing visibility, raising health concerns and prompting authorities to reimpose GRAP-4 restrictions. Even as the pollution crisis persists, the capital continues to experience typical winter conditions marked by foggy mornings, patchy cloud cover and relatively warm daytime temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that weather conditions may change later this week, with a fresh western disturbance likely to bring light rain and stronger winds on January 23.

Current Weather Conditions in Delhi NCR

For January 20, IMD has forecast partly cloudy skies across Delhi. Early morning hours are marked by shallow to moderate fog at several locations, temporarily reducing visibility. Northwest winds are blowing at speeds of 10-15 kmph during the day.

Temperatures remain higher than usual for this time of year. The minimum temperature is hovering between 7 and 9 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is expected to reach 23-25 degrees Celsius-well above the normal maximum of around 19.6 degrees.

Fog Pattern and Visibility Outlook

Fog continues to be a persistent feature in the Delhi NCR weather outlook for the next six days, especially around sunrise. IMD reports that the fog intensity is likely to remain shallow to moderate.

On January 19, visibility dropped significantly in parts of the capital, reaching as low as 200 metres at Safdarjung and around 700 metres at Palam. Similar conditions have been reported from NCR areas such as Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad, where weather trends closely mirror those of Delhi.

Temperature Trends: Above Normal for Now

Recent temperature data indicate that daytime warmth is holding well above seasonal averages. Over the past 24 hours, Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 26.7 degrees Celsius, which is 7.1 degrees above normal. Across Delhi, maximum temperatures have consistently stayed 3.1 to 5.0 degrees higher than the climatological average.

IMD expects this warmer-than-usual trend to continue for at least the next four days. Minimum temperatures are likely to see little change during this period. By January 23, night temperatures may rise slightly to 9-11 degrees Celsius, before dipping again by 1-2 degrees thereafter. Maximum temperatures are projected to gradually return closer to normal levels after January 23.

Rain Alert and Wind Conditions on January 23

A western disturbance, set to become active over northwest India from the night of January 21, is expected to influence Delhi NCR weather on January 23. IMD has issued a forecast for very light rain or drizzle in parts of Delhi and surrounding districts on that day.

Along with rainfall, southeasterly winds may pick up, blowing at speeds of 15-25 kmph, with surface winds locally touching 20-30 kmph. These conditions could bring temporary relief from haze and improve air quality and visibility.

In the coming days, residents of Delhi and NCR should be prepared for foggy mornings, sunny and warmer afternoons, and above-normal daytime temperatures. The brief spell of light rain and gusty winds on January 23 may offer short-term improvement in air quality. After the western disturbance passes, temperatures are expected to slowly align with seasonal norms, restoring a more typical winter feel to the region.