Delhi's air quality remained 'very poor' at an AQI of 382 on January 1, 2026, amid an ongoing cold wave that saw December 31 mark the city's coldest day in six years with a maximum of 14.2°C. Light rain was forecast, while cold conditions gripped much of India.
Delhi-NCR's harsh winter continued into the new year, with the Air Quality Early Warning System recording an AQI of 382—'very poor'—on January 1, 2026. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted generally cloudy skies with very light to light rain at some places on Thursday, following shallow fog in many areas and dense fog at isolated spots that morning.
December 31, 2025, brought Delhi's coldest December day in six years, with a maximum temperature of 14.2°C (6.2°C below normal) and minimum of 6.4°C (0.4°C below average), meeting IMD's 'cold day' criteria amid persistent below-average temperatures.
The cold wave extended nationwide: Punjab's Gurdaspur hit 5.2°C, Jharkhand areas 4°C, Rajasthan's Karauli single digits, and Assam's Guwahati schools closed for a week. West Bengal's sub-Himalayan districts like Darjeeling faced chillier conditions with possible light rain or snowfall. Mumbai saw light showers easing pollution. IMD warned of dense fog in parts of Rajasthan from January 1-3, risking travel disruptions.
Authorities urged caution for early morning and late-night travel during this prolonged cold spell.