Key Points:
- Delhi’s Foggy Morning: Visibility dropped to zero in some areas, disrupting train operations, with 39 trains running late.
- Rain Forecast: IMD predicts rain in Delhi-NCR on January 15-16 due to a western disturbance arriving on Wednesday.
- Temperature Update: Slight rise in Delhi’s temperature; max at 16-17°C and min at 9-10°C.
- Himachal Snowfall: Fresh snowfall and rain expected in Himachal Pradesh from January 16-19.
- Tamil Nadu Downpour: Heavy rains predicted in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari; Chennai to experience light rain with thunder.
New Delhi: On Tuesday morning, Delhi woke up to dense fog that significantly reduced visibility, with some areas like Palam reporting zero visibility by 4:30 am. This disrupted train schedules, with 39 trains delayed by 30 minutes to 4 hours. South-easterly winds at a speed of 6-8 km/h added to the winter chill.
The IMD reported “very dense fog” (visibility less than 50 meters) across many areas, particularly Safdarjung, where visibility dropped to 50 meters. The situation was compounded by poor air quality, with Delhi’s AQI recorded at 256, categorizing it as “poor.”
Rain on the Horizon: Delhi-NCR to See Showers
Delhi’s weather is set for a change, as the IMD predicts light rain on January 15-16 due to a western disturbance entering northwest India. While the sky remains clear today, cloudy conditions are expected during this period, potentially bringing relief to the smog-covered capital.
Temperatures have seen a slight rise in the past 24 hours, with daytime highs at 16-17°C and nighttime lows at 9-10°C. The rainy spell could further ease pollution levels in the region.
North India Braces for Weather Changes
- Himachal Pradesh: From January 16-19, medium and high-altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh, including Lahaul-Spiti and Kalpa, will receive rain and snowfall due to the western disturbance. Gondla recorded 1 cm of snowfall, and Kalpa received 0.4 cm so far.
- Jammu and Kashmir: The region will remain dry today but expect light snowfall in higher altitudes on January 16. From January 17-19, cloudy skies will dominate without significant precipitation.
- Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab: Mercury is expected to dip further, intensifying the winter chill.
South India: Tamil Nadu to Witness Heavy Rain
The Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) has predicted heavy rain in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari districts on Wednesday. Light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, is forecast for Chennai and surrounding areas on January 16-17.
