On January 3, thick fog blanketed the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, creating challenging conditions for air travel. Surprisingly, passengers who arrived in the national capital reported no significant delays in their flights, contrasting with the recent trend of disrupted schedules due to foggy weather. In the past days, numerous flights had experienced delays, leaving passengers stranded for extended periods due to reduced visibility. Meanwhile, a persistent cold wave continues to tighten its grip on several northern states of India, with Delhi recording a chilly 7 degrees Celsius at 6 AM on January 3. Taazinews 24 has extended its presence to WhatsApp. Tap here to join and receive the latest updates on daily News.

Delhi Weather Update:

As the capital continued to experience a cold wave, a dense layer of fog descended on Delhi, affecting visibility and causing concern among travelers. The drop in temperature has been considerable, contributing to the prevailing harsh weather conditions. While the city has been grappling with fog-related disruptions, passengers arriving on this particular day reported no delays, offering a temporary respite for air travel.

Impact on Rail Services and Weather Observations:

In contrast to the air travel scenario, the Indian Railways announced that 26 trains were running behind schedule in the Delhi area due to the persisting fog. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that moderate to dense fog covered various parts of the region, including Punjab, Haryana, and central parts of Uttar Pradesh. Late Tuesday evening, visibility in these areas was significantly reduced due to the dense fog cover.

According to the weather office, Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly recorded the lowest visibility at 25 meters. The classification of fog intensity includes ‘very dense’ (0-50 meters), ‘dense’ (51-200 meters), ‘moderate’ (201-500 meters), and ‘shallow’ (501-1,000 meters). The ongoing foggy conditions have also impacted train services in the Delhi-NCR region, with 26 trains facing delays.

Regional Outlook and Cold Wave Continuation:

The cold wave continues to affect North India, with the minimum temperature in Delhi dropping to 6-9 degrees Celsius. Similar ‘cold day’ conditions are anticipated in other northern regions, such as Punjab and Haryana, until January 5. The weather department noted dense to moderate fog the previous day, maintaining air quality in the ‘very poor’ category. On Wednesday morning, the visibility in Delhi improved to 500 meters, indicating the presence of shallow fog.

Administrative Measures and School Closures:

In response to severe cold weather conditions, administrations in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida and Greater Noida ordered the closure of schools for students up to Class 8 until January 6. This precautionary measure aims to ensure the safety of students amid the prevailing harsh weather conditions.

Weather Department’s Predictions and Satellite Observations:

The weather department, through satellite imagery, observed fog over parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, north Madhya Pradesh, and Assam on Wednesday morning. Predictions indicate that dense to very dense fog conditions are expected during the night and morning hours in parts of Punjab and Haryana from January 2 to 5, with isolated pockets thereafter for the following two days.

Similarly, dense to very dense fog conditions are likely in early morning hours in some parts of Rajasthan on January 3 and 4, as well as in isolated pockets over north Madhya Pradesh on January 3. Cold day to severe cold day conditions are anticipated to continue in many parts of Punjab and Haryana on January 3, and in some parts on January 4.

FAQs: (Frequently asked Questions)

Are flights at the Indira Gandhi International Airport delayed due to fog on January 3?
Contrary to recent trends, passengers reported no significant delays in flights despite dense fog at the airport on January 3.

How many trains in the Delhi area are running late due to fog?
The Indian Railways reported that 26 trains are delayed in the Delhi area due to foggy conditions.

What is the classification of fog intensity, and what are the visibility ranges for each category?
Fog intensity is classified as ‘very dense’ (0-50 meters), ‘dense’ (51-200 meters), ‘moderate’ (201-500 meters), and ‘shallow’ (501-1,000 meters).

Why did administrations in Noida and Greater Noida order the closure of schools up to Class 8?
School closures were a precautionary measure in response to severe cold weather conditions in the districts.

What is the minimum temperature recorded in Delhi on January 3?
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 6-9 degrees Celsius on January 3.

Which regions in North India are likely to experience ‘cold day’ conditions until January 5?
Northern regions, including Punjab and Haryana, are anticipated to have ‘cold day’ conditions until January 5.

Is the visibility in Delhi improving, and what is the air quality status?
Wednesday morning saw improved visibility in Delhi at 500 meters, with air quality remaining in the ‘very poor’ category.

How long is the cold wave expected to persist in North India?
The cold wave is expected to continue in North India, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, until January 5.

What measures are the weather department advising for areas with dense fog conditions?
The weather department advises precautions during night and morning hours in regions experiencing dense to very dense fog.

Is there any significant change expected in minimum temperatures in East and Central India over the next few days?
East India is expected to experience no significant change in minimum temperatures over the next two days, followed by a subsequent rise of 2-3 degrees Celsius. In Central India, a rise of 2-3 degrees Celsius is likely over the next three days, with no significant change thereafter.

Also read: DELHI WEATHER FORECAST: IMD PREDICTS CHILLY WEEK WITH FOG AND TEMPERATURE DETAILS

Also read: DENSE FOG ENGULFS DELHI-NCR: IMD ISSUES ‘COLD-DAY’