A thick blanket of dense fog and toxic smog lowered visibility across the National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday morning, December 27, 2025. Despite the early morning chill, the city’s air quality continued to struggle, remaining firmly in the ‘Very Poor’ category, with several monitoring stations even breaching the ‘Severe’ threshold.
AQI Watch: Breathing Becomes a Challenge
According to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 355 as of 9:00 AM.
- Pollution Hotspots: While the average stayed in the high 300s, local monitoring stations reported much more hazardous conditions:
- Anand Vihar: 410 (Severe)
- Jahangirpuri: 417 (Severe)
- Vivek Vihar: 424 (Severe)
- ITO: 379 (Very Poor)
- Health Warning: Health officials have advised children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions to avoid prolonged outdoor exertion as the “Very Poor” air can cause respiratory illness upon long-term exposure.
Temperature & Humidity: A Damp Morning
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted that while the air was heavy with pollutants, the morning was slightly warmer than the seasonal average.
| Metric | Reading (Dec 27, 2025) | Departure from Normal |
| Minimum Temperature | 7.8°C | +1.0°C |
| Maximum Temperature (Forecast) | 22.0°C | — |
| Relative Humidity (8:30 AM) | 100% | — |
Weather Forecast: Lingering Fog and Low Visibility
The IMD has predicted that moderate to dense fog will likely persist throughout the day, significantly affecting road and air traffic.
- Visibility: Early morning visuals from Dhaula Kuan and India Gate showed visibility reduced to less than 200 meters in some pockets.
- GRAP Measures: Authorities continue to monitor the situation under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), with Stage III restrictions (including construction bans) currently in effect to prevent the AQI from slipping further into the ‘Severe’ zone.