The cold wave in the Delhi region has intensified after an unexpected early morning shower. The temperature stood at 5 degrees Celsius with 100 per cent humidity according to the early warning system for Delhi.
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for the region due to the dense fog.
Apart from the cold, a thick layer of smog also enveloped several parts of the city, impacting the air quality. Delhi's overall Air Quality Index fell under the poor category, standing at 280.
#WATCH | Delhi | Rain lashes parts of the national capital.
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2026
(Visuals from Sarita Vihar) pic.twitter.com/hix2ZKw2Qh
The rain began around 6 am and decreased to drizzle. Cold north-westerly winds accompanied the showers, which made conditions worse than the actual recorded temperatures
The minimum temperatures throughout the day are likely to stand and 5 degrees Celsius, and maximum temperatures are expected to be around 16 degrees and 17 degrees Celsius.
N1/2
— IndiaMetSky Weather (@indiametsky) January 9, 2026
Season’s First and Rare Rainfall event for #Delhi, #NCR and #Haryana!
Moist easterlies at surface level bringing good amounts of moisture and fog in lower level with temps below 5-7°C over a large area including the Aravali and triggering orographic lifting & low level of… pic.twitter.com/mmJKvm1aAn
According to weather data, this was the season's lowest recorded minimum temperatures.
Safdarjung recorded minimum temperatures of 5.8 degrees Celsius, about 1.1 degrees lower than usual.
At the Palam monitoring station, the temperatures dropped to 4.8 degrees Celsius, 1.7 degrees below average temperatures.
Lodhit road recorded temperatures of 6.1 degrees Celsius.
Ridge and Ayanagar all recorded the same temperature at 5.8 degrees.
Cold day conditions are declared when the minimum temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperatures fall 4.5 to 6.4 degrees below average temperatures.
The cold wave is expected to continue in the region for another two days.
The IMD has issued a warning for dense fog, cold day, and cold wave conditions in multiple states, including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, west Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, and east Madhya Pradesh from January 8 to 14.
