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On January 11, the residents of New Delhi and surrounding areas were greeted by a blanket of dense fog, significantly reducing visibility, a continuation of the cold wave conditions that have tightened their grip on the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that the cold wave will intensify over the weekend, anticipating heavy rainfall across Delhi-NCR on January 11 and 12, due to Western Disturbances. These rains, expected to bring chilly winds with them, are likely to exacerbate the already cold conditions.
The IMD has indicated a chilling forecast for the weekend, with temperatures in Delhi expected to plummet. Predictions suggest that the minimum temperature will range between 6 degrees Celsius to a colder 20 degrees Celsius. Neighboring areas like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram aren't spared either, as they brace for similar freezing conditions. Specifically, Ghaziabad could see the mercury dipping as low as 5 degrees Celsius, making for a bitterly cold experience in these regions.
The persistent dense fog has not only made mornings colder but has also disrupted travel plans, affecting both flight and train schedules. Over 100 flights at the Indira Gandhi International Airport were delayed, and 26 trains reported late arrivals due to zero visibility conditions on Friday. The airport officials took to social media early Friday morning to announce that low visibility procedures were in effect, but assured that flights were operating as usual.
The adverse weather conditions have also taken a toll on the air quality in Delhi-NCR. On Friday evening, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi neared the "severe" category at 397, placing it in the "very poor" category. This deterioration in air quality is another consequence of the dense fog enveloping the region, highlighting the environmental impact of the ongoing cold wave.
Bobins Abraham, the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes, brings more than a dozen years of experience in TV and digital journalism to his work. With a deep interest in history, geopolitics, conservation, and environmentalism, he covers a wide range of topics from environmental issues to human-animal conflicts and sustainability. His expertise and passion for these subjects shine through in his contributions to the field of journalism.
