Delhi weather alert: Why is the national capital freezing under icy cold wave and how long will chilly conditions last? Here's what IMD says

Parts of Delhi witnessed early morning rain on Friday amid the chilly winters with nighttime temperatures dipping to around 5 degrees Celsius. Delhi is likely to experience severe chill over the next few days with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for Friday, predicting moderate fog at a few places and dense fog at isolated places during morning hours. The weather department has warned that "chill conditions" expected to intensify across northern India until January 15. Navdeep Dahiya, an amateur weatherman, warned residents to brace up for “great north Indian Coldblast”. "Brace yourselves.... The upcoming 10 days will challenge "The great north Indian ColdBlast" of 24th Dec 2019 - 1st Jan 2020. Thats the tweet!," Dahiya wrote on X.

On Thursday, the national capital recorded a low of 5.8 degrees Celsius, the third lowest this winter. Delhi continued to reel under cold day conditions on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature recorded at 16.7 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees below normal, and the minimum at 8.6 degrees Celsius, 1.7 degrees below the seasonal average. According to the IMD, cold day conditions are declared when the minimum temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius, and the maximum falls about 4.5 to 6.4 degrees below the normal.

ALSO READ: Delhi, Noida and Gurugram weather: Rains add to winter chill as national capital continues to shiver amid dense fog, Delhi Airport issues advisory. Check IMD forecast

Why is Delhi experiencing icy cold weather?

According to a report in Hindustan Times, Navdeep Dahiya said Delhi can expect the maximum temperature to fall and be in the range of 12-15°C at Safdarjung during the next 9-10 days or so, and it may be between 10-14°C at Palam. Early morning fog is likely to persist in the national capital with this rising to the mid-and-upper levels during the day, he explained.


Dahiya said a cocktail of fog, alongside icy-cold northwesterly winds, made it feel extremely cold during the day. "Despite fog, which keeps minimum high, these icy-cold winds will not only keep maximum low, but also gradually bring the minimum lower," he said.

The IMD officials said winter conditions have intensified in the national capital with dense fog and chilly northwesterly winds working in tandem causing the temperature to fall and extend the cold spell. On Thursday, Palam emerged as the coldest station with a minimum of 4.8 degrees Celsius, while Ridge and Ayanagar all recorded 5.8 degrees Celsius, according to the weather office. The Safdarjung observatory, which serves as Delhi's base weather station recorded a low of 5.8 degrees, 1.1 notch below normal.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Friday, forecasting moderate to dense fog, with minimum temperatures expected to hover between 5°C and 7°C. Similar conditions are likely to persist over the weekend, it said. The lowest minimum at Safdarjung so far this season was 5.6°C, recorded on December 4 and 5.

ALSO READ: Delhi, Noida and Gurugram weather alert: Delhi airport issues advisory amid fog; IMD warns of cold wave conditions in MP, Bihar, Chandigarh and more

Delhi weather update

For January 9 and 10, Delhi is likely to witness clear skies, the IMD has said with shallow to moderate fog during morning hours. On Saturday, the maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are likely to be in the ranges of 16°C to 18°C and 06°C to 08°C, respectively. On Sunday, weather conditions are likely to remain similar with the maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are likely to be in the ranges of 15°C to 17°C and 05°C to 07°C, respectively.

Date	Weather Forecast
08.01.2026	Mainly clear sky. Mist/haze during night.
09.01.2026	Mainly clear sky. Moderate fog at a few places and dense fog at isolated places during morning hours.
10.01.2026	Mainly clear sky. Shallow to moderate fog during morning hours.
11.01.2026	Mainly clear sky. Shallow to moderate fog during morning hours.
12.01.2026	Mainly clear sky. Shallow to moderate fog during morning hours.
13.01.2026	Partly cloudy sky. Shallow to moderate fog during morning hours.
14.01.2026	Partly cloudy sky. Shallow to moderate fog during morning hours.

Schools shut in Delhi till January 15

Amid the intense cold in national capital, schools in Delhi will remain closed till January 15 as part of the winter vacation announced by the Directorate of Education (DoE), Government of NCT of Delhi. The school holiday dates form part of the official academic calendar for the 2025–26 session and are applicable to all schools across the national capital. The winter vacation, which began on January 1, was scheduled in view of the severe winter conditions typically witnessed in Delhi during early January.

Cold mornings, dense fog and poor visibility often make commuting unsafe for young students, particularly during early school hours. According to the official Directorate of Education (DoE) calendar for the 2025–26 session, regular classes will resume only after the winter break concludes. The academic calendar serves as a planning framework for schools, helping them schedule holidays, examinations and other academic activities throughout the year.

ALSO READ: Kolkata weather: Why 'City of Joy' is experiencing unusual chill for the past few days and how long will winter days last. Here's what IMD says

North India reeling under dense fog

North India will face severe disruptions due to dense fog and cold waves on January 9. According to the IMD, dense to very dense fog will prevail during the morning hours across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. Similar hazardous conditions are expected in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, with visibility likely dropping to zero in several pockets.

According to the IMD, Dense fog conditions are very likely to continue during the morning hours over northwest India and Bihar for the next five to seven days, and over isolated parts of central India, northeast India, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next two to three days. Cold day conditions are likely to prevail at isolated places over Uttarakhand, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, East Madhya Pradesh and Bihar during the next one to three days. Cold wave conditions are also very likely in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, Rajasthan, East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and North Interior Karnataka over the next two to three days.