Fog-Soaked Mornings And Shifting Skies: North India Wakes to Murky Air And Active Weather

Residents of Delhi stepped into a hazy dawn on Monday as thick layers of fog hovered over several pockets of the capital. Alongside reduced visibility, air quality lingered between middling and worrying levels, as reflected in data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Weather observations from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the presence of moderate fog across multiple city zones. Areas such as Dhaula Kuan, Akshardham, Dwarka, and Mother Teresa Crescent Marg found themselves wrapped in a grey veil during the early hours, slowing traffic and muting the usual morning rush.

By around 7 a.m., air quality monitors across Delhi painted a mixed but concerning picture. Dwarka’s Sectors 3, 6, and 10 registered an AQI of 243, placing them firmly in the ‘poor’ bracket. Mahipalpur, while comparatively better, recorded an AQI of 134, which still falls under the ‘moderate’ category. Mother Teresa Crescent Marg echoed similar conditions, logging an AQI reading of 118.

The murkiness was not limited to the capital alone. Neighbouring NCR regions, particularly Ghaziabad, experienced early morning mist paired with degraded air quality. CPCB figures showed Ghaziabad touching an AQI of 259, again signalling ‘poor’ air conditions at the start of the day.

In contrast, Mumbai greeted the morning with relatively cleaner air. The iconic Marine Drive area recorded an AQI of 126, categorised as ‘moderate’. Despite the presence of fog and mist, locals were seen continuing their morning walks along the promenade. The IMD has predicted fog or mist during the early hours, followed by largely clear skies as the day progresses.

For context, AQI readings between 0–50 are considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and anything above 400 is marked ‘severe’.

Beyond city limits, several airports across north and central India reported fluctuating fog conditions. According to the IMD, visibility ranged from shallow to very dense fog between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. IST, potentially affecting flight operations.

The weather narrative of the past day adds further complexity. On Sunday morning, Delhi’s overall AQI had slipped into the ‘very poor’ zone, touching 318 by 8 a.m. In response, the IMD issued a yellow alert for the capital, cautioning residents about possible thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph. Similar alerts extended to Haryana and Chandigarh, where Karnal even witnessed an early hailstorm.

Meteorologists noted that the rainfall marked the onset of a more active weather phase. Thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and sporadic hail are expected to impact several regions, with light rain already washing over parts of Delhi and its surrounding NCR areas during the early hours.