Delhi residents woke up to yet another freezing morning on Monday, as dense fog and biting cold continued to cover the city. Several parts of the national capital recorded minimum temperatures below 4°C, marking the coldest spell of this winter so far.

Some areas in Delhi experienced extremely low temperatures, with readings falling close to 2°C. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ayanagar recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 2.9°C, while Palam saw the mercury drop to 3°C, its coldest night in several years.

The base weather station at Safdarjung reported a minimum temperature of 4.8°C. The IMD said this could fall further and reach around 3°C by Monday night. Other areas also felt the chill, with Lodhi Road recording 3°C, while Ridge reported 4.2°C.

The IMD said the cold spell is not over yet. Severe cold wave conditions are expected to continue for the next couple of days, especially in isolated parts of north India. Dense fog during early morning hours has also reduced visibility in many areas.

Along with the cold, Delhi’s air quality remained a concern. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 291 at 4 pm, placing it in the ‘Poor’ category.

What do AQI numbers mean?

Here is how air quality is classified:

  • 0–50: Good

  • 51–100: Satisfactory

  • 101–200: Moderate

  • 201–300: Poor

  • 301–400: Very Poor

  • 401–500: Severe

With cold conditions and poor air quality persisting, residents have been advised to exercise caution, especially during early morning and late-night hours.