Delhi experienced its coldest day of the season on Friday as light winter rain swept across parts of the national capital, Noida and Gurugram, worsening cold wave conditions in the region.
The minimum temperature in Delhi dropped sharply to 4.6 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest reading so far this winter. The rainfall came a day after the city recorded a low of 5.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the third-lowest minimum temperature of the season. The Safdarjung observatory noted the temperature was 1.1 degrees below normal.
Despite the rain, dense fog continued to envelop Delhi-NCR, affecting visibility during early morning hours. Visuals from across the city showed commuters braving chilly winds and poor visibility as the cold intensified.
Weather conditions remained harsh throughout Thursday as well, with maximum temperatures staying below normal at all monitoring stations, contributing to a persistent chill across the capital.
Cold Days in Delhi in 2026
Delhi began 2026 under the grip of cold wave and dense fog conditions. The first cold day of the year was recorded on January 6, when the minimum temperature fell to 7.6 degrees Celsius, about 0.7 degrees below normal.
Another cold day was observed on January 7, when the maximum temperature dipped to 16.7 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees below normal, while the minimum stood at 8.6 degrees Celsius, 1.7 degrees below the seasonal average.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a day is classified as a cold day when the minimum temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius or when the maximum temperature remains 4.5 to 6.4 degrees below normal.