Delhi wakes up to dense fog in rare late-March spell as temperatures drop sharply

A dense layer of fog blanketed parts of Delhi and neighbouring regions, including Noida, on Saturday morning, as the national capital continues to witness an unusual March marked by lower temperatures, improved air quality, and intermittent rainfall.

The conditions follow a record-setting Friday, when the city logged its coldest March day in six years and its cleanest air in five months.

Visuals showed thick fog across the city, even as large crowds gathered at Jama Masjid to offer namaz on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The air quality index (AQI) stood at 94 — in the “satisfactory” category — at 8 am, continuing a sharp improvement from Friday’s reading of 93. It marked the first time in nearly five months that Delhi’s air quality fell into the satisfactory range, last recorded on October 9, 2025.

According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, air quality is likely to remain in the moderate category through March 23.

The India Meteorological Department said the maximum temperature on Saturday is expected to range between 27°C and 29°C, while the minimum could dip to 13–15°C. The city had recorded a minimum of 16°C on Friday.

Delhi has also received 16.2 mm of rainfall so far this month, making it the wettest March since 2023. Forecasts indicate a possibility of light rain returning on Monday, along with thunderstorms and lightning due to an active western disturbance.