New Delhi – The national capital experienced its Delhi coldest night 2026 on Thursday, with the minimum temperature plunging to a bone-chilling 2.9°Celsius. This marks the lowest temperature recorded in the city in three years, as residents continued to shiver under the impact of icy-cold northwesterly winds and dense fog blanketing the region.
The Delhi coldest night 2026 occurred amid cold wave conditions that have persisted across the capital for five consecutive days. The recorded minimum temperature of 2.9°Celsius was significantly below normal, measuring 4.5 degrees lower than the average temperature expected for this time of year.
Temperature Trend and Historical Comparison
Thursday’s Delhi coldest night 2026 represented a continuing downward trend in temperatures, with the mercury dropping from Wednesday’s minimum of 3.8°Celsius and Tuesday’s minimum of 3°Celsius. This progressive decline has intensified the cold wave conditions affecting daily life in the capital.
According to India Meteorological Department data, the last time Delhi experienced an even lower minimum temperature was on January 18, 2023, when the mercury plummeted to 2.6°Celsius. This historical context emphasizes the severity of the current Delhi coldest night 2026 and its impact on residents.
Palam Records Lowest Temperature in Two Decades
While the Delhi coldest night 2026 saw Safdarjung record 2.9°Celsius, the Palam station logged an even more extreme minimum temperature of 2.3°Celsius on Thursday. This reading was five degrees below normal and represents the lowest temperature recorded at this station in 20 years.
The Palam station had previously recorded an even lower temperature of 0.3°Celsius on January 8, 2006. The current Delhi coldest night 2026 figures at Palam underscore the exceptional nature of the ongoing cold wave affecting different parts of the capital.
Multiple Weather Stations Report Extreme Cold
The Delhi coldest night 2026 was not limited to a single location, as multiple weather stations across the capital reported cold wave conditions. According to IMD data, Ayanagar recorded a minimum of 2.7°Celsius, while Lodhi Road logged 3.4°Celsius and Ridge recorded 4.5°Celsius.
An IMD official confirmed that multiple stations experienced cold wave conditions on Thursday, noting: “There is a possibility that isolated pockets record cold wave conditions on Friday too. Relief is likely over the weekend.” This widespread impact of the Delhi coldest night 2026 affected residents across all areas of the capital.
IMD Classification and Cold Wave Criteria
The India Meteorological Department classifies conditions as a “cold wave” when the minimum temperature falls below 10°Celsius and is at least 4.5°Celsius below normal, or when the actual minimum drops to 4°Celsius or lower. The Delhi coldest night 2026 clearly met these criteria across multiple measuring stations.
For historical context, the all-time minimum temperature for Safdarjung in January remains -0.6°Celsius, recorded on January 16, 1935. For Palam, the all-time January low stands at -2.2°Celsius, recorded on January 11, 1967.
Dense Fog Compounds Cold Wave Impact
The Delhi coldest night 2026 was accompanied by dense fog that severely affected visibility across the capital. Officials reported that a combination of icy-cold northwesterly winds and dense fog contributed to the extreme conditions, with the lowest visibility dipping to just 50 metres between 6am and 9am at Palam.
At Safdarjung, the lowest visibility recorded was 100 metres around 6am. The IMD classifies fog as “dense” when visibility ranges between 50 and 200 metres, while below 50 metres is considered “very dense.”
Transportation Services Severely Disrupted
The impact of the Delhi coldest night 2026 and accompanying poor visibility was evident on transportation services. Data showed that over 500 flights were delayed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, with the average delay time for departures reaching 32 minutes.
Railway services were similarly affected, with over 50 trains running late according to Northern Railways. These disruptions highlighted the practical challenges posed by the Delhi coldest night 2026 conditions for commuters and travelers.
Weather Forecast and Expected Relief
The IMD has issued a “yellow” alert for Friday, forecasting a slight rise in minimum temperatures to 4-6°Celsius. Following the Delhi coldest night 2026, temperatures are expected to further increase to 5-7°Celsius on Saturday and 6-8°Celsius on Sunday due to warmer winds resulting from a western disturbance.
Meteorological experts explained that a western disturbance began impacting the Himalayan region from January 15, with fresh snowfall expected on January 16. Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet, noted: “The minimum will now start rising from Friday onwards. A second more active western disturbance is meanwhile expected to bring possible rain across the plains on January 22 or 23.”
Wind Pattern Changes Expected
Cold northwesterly winds have been prevailing for approximately 10 days, contributing to the Delhi coldest night 2026 conditions. The wind direction is expected to change to easterly again as the western disturbance approaches. Easterly winds typically bring moisture but are considerably milder than the harsh northwesterly winds.
Air Quality Concerns Persist
Despite the Delhi coldest night 2026 drawing primary attention, air quality remained a significant concern. Delhi’s air quality stayed in the higher end of the “very poor” range on Wednesday, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index standing at 343 at 4pm on Thursday.
The Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System forecast deterioration ahead, predicting “severe” air quality on January 18, adding another challenge for residents already coping with the extreme cold.
