Delhi Shivers in Severe Cold: 4-Year Record Broken, 150 Flights Cancelled, IMD Forecasts Relief Timeline

New Delhi: The last day of 2025 brought an intense cold wave to the national capital, breaking a four-year temperature record and disrupting daily life. Dense fog and chilling winds blanketed the city, making it one of the coldest days since 2022.

Record-Breaking Cold
On Wednesday, the maximum temperature in Delhi plummeted to 14.2°C, marking the lowest day temperature in the past four years. The persistent cloud cover prevented sunlight from warming the city, intensifying the cold. For comparison, on 26 January 2022, the maximum temperature had dropped to 12.1°C, while December 31, 2019, recorded an even lower 9.4°C. This makes the end-of-December 2025 cold one of the chilliest days in the last six years.

Impact on Transportation and Daily Life
The extreme cold and thick fog led to ‘Cold Day’ conditions across Delhi, with some areas experiencing ‘Severe Cold Day’ status. Visibility fell to as low as 50 meters for several hours, severely affecting air traffic. Around 150 flights were cancelled, 2 diverted, and over 500 experienced delays. Air quality remained in the “Very Poor” category, aggravating health concerns for residents.

Temperature Across the City

• Safdarjung: Max 14.2°C (6.2°C below normal)
• Palam: Max 13.6°C, Severe Cold Day
• Lodhi Road: Max 13.4°C, Severe Cold Day
• Ridge: Max 13.1°C, coldest area recorded
  The minimum temperature citywide was 6.4°C, considered normal for this season.

Why Delhi Felt Extra Cold
Weather experts attribute the intense chill to an active Western Disturbance, which maintained high moisture levels over northern India. Moisture-laden easterly winds, dense clouds, and heavy fog blocked sunlight, amplifying both cold and pollution levels.

IMD Forecast: Relief Still Days Away
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), dense to very dense fog may persist in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh during early mornings and nights until 5 January 2026. Light rainfall and cloudy conditions are also expected in the coming days. Significant relief from the cold wave is not anticipated immediately, with residents advised to take necessary precautions.