NEW DELHI – The biting cold wave in North India intensified on Saturday, January 10, 2026, as Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 4.2∘C. This is the lowest temperature recorded this season, surpassing Friday’s low of 4.6∘C. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), today’s mercury level is 2.7∘ below the seasonal normal.
1. Temperature Trends: A Biting Start to 2026
The current cold spell has been relentless, with the mercury consistently dropping over the last 48 hours. Saturday’s reading is the lowest for January in two years, coming close to the 3.5∘C recorded on January 16, 2024.
Minimum Temperature Timeline (Safdarjung):
- Wednesday, Jan 7: 8.6∘C
- Thursday, Jan 8: 5.8∘C
- Friday, Jan 9: 4.6∘C
- Saturday, Jan 10: 4.2∘C
While Safdarjung is the city’s base station, other pockets were even colder. Ayanagar reported a bone-chilling 3.8∘C early this morning.
2. Record Power Demand: The 6,000 MW Milestone
As residents turned to high-wattage electrical heaters and geysers to combat the sub-5∘C temperatures, Delhi’s power grid faced an unprecedented surge.
- The Figure: Peak power demand hit 6,087 MW on Friday morning.
- The Significance: This is the highest-ever winter demand in Delhi’s history and the first time it has crossed the 6,000 MW threshold during the November–March period.
- The Shift: Power distribution companies (Discoms) like BSES and Tata Power DDL attribute this to a “consumption shift,” where residents are opting for electric heating over traditional bonfires to comply with anti-pollution guidelines.
3. Impacts: School Closures and Travel Delays
The combination of extreme cold and dense fog has significantly disrupted daily life in the National Capital Region (NCR).
- Schools: The Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) has extended winter holidays for all schools (up to Class 12) until January 15, 2026. Similar closures are in effect in Noida, Gurugram, and parts of Punjab.
- Aviation: Over 140 flights at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport were delayed or diverted on Friday and Saturday due to CAT III (low visibility) conditions.
- Health Alert: Doctors have issued advisories for the elderly and those with respiratory issues, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) remains in the “Very Poor” category (325+).