Delhi and the surrounding NCR regions woke up to dense fog and overcast skies early Saturday morning, just a day after recording the coldest March day in six years and experiencing heavy rainfall.
As of 7:20 am, the Safdargunj observatory in Delhi reported a temperature of 14°C with 100% humidity, accompanied by misty conditions across the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not issued any weather alerts for Delhi-NCR on Saturday. The fog and cloud cover have reduced visibility, impacting vehicular movement and daily routines in the city.
The IMD had issued a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms on Friday, owing to an active western disturbance that brought significant rainfall, providing relief from record-high temperatures. Several districts in Uttar Pradesh also experienced gusty winds, thunderstorms, and rainfall, adding to the stormy weather conditions. The rainfall was particularly notable in Delhi, where it helped lower the mercury and improve air quality—an unusual occurrence during March.
Friday marked the coldest March day in Delhi in six years, with the temperature dropping to 21.2°C on March 8, 2020. The city also recorded its best air quality in about five months, with an AQI of 93 in the ‘satisfactory’ category—the first time since October 9, 2025, that the AQI was in this range. The recent rain and cloud cover have contributed to this improvement, offering a breath of fresh air after months of pollution.
March has turned out to be the wettest in Delhi in the past three years, with 50.4 mm of rainfall recorded in 2023—the highest during this month in recent years. The rainfall has also impacted agricultural activities and daily life, with waterlogging reported in several low-lying areas.
Weather experts attribute the recent changes to an active western disturbance extending from northern Pakistan to Madhya Pradesh, along with cyclonic circulations over Haryana and southern Uttar Pradesh. These systems have resulted in gusty winds, thunderstorms, and a sudden drop in temperatures.
The IMD has forecast that the current weather pattern will continue over the next few days, with the possibility of more fog and light rain in some areas. Citizens are advised to exercise caution while traveling, especially during early mornings and late evenings when fog is densest. The ongoing weather changes are a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the region’s climate, especially during the transitional month of March.
