Delhi Records Warmest January Ever at 26.1°C, 'Very Poor' Air Quality Lingers

Responsible Us Bureau Jan 20, 2025 Add to Reading List

Delhi records its hottest winter day in six years under dense fog, poor air quality.
Delhi witnessed its warmest day of winter on 19 January when the maximum temperatures reached 26.1 degrees Celsius. "It is the highest day temperature in January since, at least, the last six years, "India Meteorological Department declared. However, with the temperature rising, the city experienced significant thick fog, poor air quality, making travel further difficult and impeding the visibility.

Temperature Upsurge and Weather Instances
Temperatures had risen, according to reports in the Hindustan Times (HT), owing to a western disturbance that hit the Himalayan region. Even the minimum temperature for the day was above normal, at 9.2 degrees Celsius-two notches above normal.

The last time Delhi had seen a higher maximum temperature in January was on 21 January 2019, when the mercury touched 28.7 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, the minimum maximum temperature this winter was registered at 14.6 degrees Celsius on December 27, 2024. Even with unseasonal warm day-time temperatures, Delhi saw moderate to dense fog that greatly affected visibility and disrupted journeys across the city.

Air quality degrades despite mitigation efforts.
In addition to the change in temperature, Delhi air quality was still an issue. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had invoked Stage-III measures under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) earlier on January 18 but cancelled the measures also since the quality of air improves. The AQI had decreased to 368 till 4 pm on January 19 from the "poor" AQI that was recorded to be 255 the previous day.

However, the CAQM has strengthened its stage-I and stage-II measures. The AQI on January 19 was termed "very poor," and many experts said there was a higher prospect for the air to deteriorate the next few days.
Forecast over the Next Coming Days
Delhi ventilation index will be at 3500 m²/s on January 20, 3100 m²/s on January 21, and 600 m²/s on January 22 according to the latest bulletin from AQEWS. The ventilation index measures the ability of the atmosphere to dilute air pollutants; the higher value means better air quality.

Wind speeds on January 21 are below 10 km/h in the morning, peaking as low as 8 km/h in the evening and at night from the northwest. Thus, the smog and fog may continue even during the night, meaning that the air quality may be pushed further down as well. On January 22, the wind speed is forecasted to be below 6 km/h in the evening and night, with a chance of very light rain during the evening. The smog and fog conditions are also likely to prevail throughout the day.

AQEWS has further added that the air quality in Delhi will remain in the "poor" category till January 21, while further decline up to the "very poor" levels is observed by January 22. Air quality is expected to remain in the "poor" to "very poor" category at least for the next six days from January 23.

No Cold Wave is forecasted.
The IMD has ruled out the possibility of a cold wave in the coming days for Delhi and the rest of North-West India, despite the fog. This brings a little relief to the residents, as they have had to suffer through high pollution coupled with unseasonably warm temperatures.

Conclusion
The weather scenario for Delhi on January 19 was the fight the city has been waging against rising temperature, bad air quality, and never-ending fog. When the city had its unusually warm winter day, air quality continued to be a matter of concern. The government continued to make efforts to minimize the impact with Stage-I and Stage-II measures. The poor air quality with thick fog will prevail for a couple of days. The residents of Delhi are advised to take precautions especially those who suffer from respiratory diseases. Keep an eye out for weather updates.