Delhi Braces for Rain Amid Severe Cold; Air Quality Plummets to ‘Very Poor’

New Delhi, January 14, 2026: The capital continues to shiver under an intense cold wave, with temperatures dropping to new seasonal lows. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for cold conditions on Wednesday.

According to weather forecasts, rainfall is expected in Delhi between January 18 and 20, which could be followed by another cold wave around January 26. This prolonged cold may persist until late January or early February. On Tuesday morning, conditions were severely cold, causing discomfort even indoors, though there was no fog.

Temperature Details
Tuesday recorded the coldest day of the season so far, with the minimum temperature dropping to 3°C, 4.4°C below normal. Other areas also reported low temperatures: Palam 4°C, Lodhi Road 3°C, Ridge 4.4°C, Iyanagar 3.2°C, Gurugram 3.3°C, and Faridabad 4.3°C. During the day, bright sunlight brought some relief, raising maximum temperatures above 21°C in several locations. Safdarjung recorded 21.6°C, Lodhi Road 22°C, Ridge 21.4°C, Iyanagar 21.9°C, and Faridabad 22.3°C.

Wednesday Weather Outlook
The sky is expected to remain mostly clear, though pockets of cold conditions may persist in certain areas. Maximum temperatures are forecasted around 20°C, with minimum temperatures near 4°C.

Air Quality Deteriorates Sharply
Calm winds have led to a significant rise in pollution levels, pushing Delhi’s air quality back into the ‘very poor’ category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 360, marking January’s second most polluted day after January 1 (AQI 380).

Regional AQI readings include: Faridabad 254, Ghaziabad 358, Greater Noida 384, Gurugram 378, Noida 367. Five Delhi locations reported AQI above 400: Rohini 406, NSIT Dwarka 411, Nehru Nagar 416, Jahangirpuri 407, Dwarka Sector-8 426, and Anand Vihar 436. Pollution levels are expected to remain at ‘very poor’ standards over the next ten days.

Authorities have advised residents to minimize outdoor activity, particularly in the mornings and evenings, and to take precautions against the extreme cold and hazardous air quality.