Delhi NCR Weather Update: Temperature To Touch 21 Degrees, AQI Remains In Severe Category

India

oi-Swastika Sruti

Air
quality
in
the
national
capital
worsened
sharply
on
Monday
morning
as
dense
fog
and
cold
wave
conditions
continued
to
affect
the
region.

Delhi’s
Air
Quality
Index
(AQI)
dropped
to
418,
falling
into
the
‘severe’
category
at
7
am
on
January
19,
2026,
raising
serious
health
concerns
for
residents.

According
to
data
from
the
Central
Pollution
Control
Board
(CPCB),
pollution
levels
spiked
across
the
city,
with
more
than
30
areas
recording
AQI
readings
in
the
red
zone.
Poor
dispersion
of
pollutants
due
to
cold
weather
and
fog
contributed
to
the
sharp
decline
in
air
quality.

Flights
Delayed
as
Pollution
Levels
Rise
Across
Key
Areas

The
combination
of
thick
fog
and
severe
pollution
led
to
flight
delays
at
Indira
Gandhi
International
Airport,
causing
inconvenience
to
travellers.
Several
central
and
high-traffic
areas
recorded
dangerously
high
AQI
levels.

Rafi
Marg
reported
an
AQI
of
417,
while
the
ITO
area
saw
levels
touch
434,
both
under
the
‘severe’
category.
Air
quality
around
India
Gate
and
nearby
locations
also
crossed
the
400
mark,
significantly
reducing
visibility
and
impacting
daily
movement.

In
response
to
the
worsening
conditions,
authorities
reintroduced
Stage
IV
of
the
Graded
Response
Action
Plan
(GRAP).
These
stricter
pollution
control
measures
were
enforced
as
a
precaution,
with
officials
warning
that
air
quality
could
deteriorate
further
in
the
coming
days.

AQI
Remains
Critical
Across
Several
Parts
of
Delhi

Several
parts
of
the
city
recorded
extremely
high
AQI
levels
on
Monday
morning.
Chandni
Chowk
registered
an
AQI
of
500,
while
Jahangirpuri
recorded
428.
Other
areas
with
poor
air
quality
included
Anand
Vihar
(661),
Bawana
(356),
Vivek
Vihar
(411),
North
Campus
(413),
Patparganj
(404),
Siri
Fort
(373),
Okhla
Phase
2
(330),
and
Sri
Aurobindo
Marg
(262).

Health
experts
have
advised
people,
especially
children,
the
elderly,
and
those
with
respiratory
conditions,
to
limit
outdoor
activities
during
severe
pollution
hours.

Air
Quality
and
Weather
Outlook
for
Coming
Days

Forecasts
suggest
that
Delhi’s
air
quality
is
likely
to
remain
in
the
‘very
poor’
category
until
January
21,
2026.
The
outlook
for
the
following
six
days
indicates
air
quality
ranging
between
poor
and
very
poor,
offering
little
immediate
relief.

The
India
Meteorological
Department
(IMD)
has
predicted
a
partly
cloudy
sky
on
Monday
and
issued
a
yellow
alert
due
to
moderate
fog
across
many
parts
of
the
city.
Dense
fog
is
expected
at
isolated
locations
during
morning
hours.
From
January
20
to
January
24,
shallow
to
moderate
fog
is
likely
to
continue,
along
with
similar
weather
conditions.

Pollution
Levels
High
in
NCR
Cities

Neighbouring
NCR
cities
also
recorded
alarming
AQI
levels.
Ghaziabad
reported
an
AQI
of
516,
while
Noida
and
Gurugram
recorded
AQIs
of
622
and
426,
respectively,
indicating
widespread
pollution
across
the
region.

Authorities
have
urged
residents
to
follow
pollution
advisories,
avoid
unnecessary
travel,
and
stay
updated
through
official
channels
as
air
quality
conditions
continue
to
remain
critical.