NEW DELHI: A thick layer of fog enveloped the national capital on Thursday morning, reducing visibility across several areas, including Moti Bagh and Dwarka. Foggy conditions also led to delays in a few flights at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert, warning of cold wave conditions at isolated places. Some relief is expected from Friday as cold wave conditions are likely to weaken with the approach of a feeble western disturbance, which may push up night temperatures.

IMD has forecast the minimum temperature to hover between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius on Thursday, rising to 6–8 degrees on Friday. By Sunday, the minimum temperature is expected to climb further to between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius. According to IMD norms, a cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius and is 4.5 degrees or more below normal, or when the actual minimum temperature touches 4 degrees Celsius or lower. “Multiple stations reported cold wave conditions on Wednesday,” an IMD official said. A western disturbance is expected to begin affecting the Himalayan region from January 15, with fresh snowfall likely on January 16. The wind direction is also expected to shift to easterly, bringing more moisture but relatively milder conditions. “A second, more active western disturbance is, meanwhile, expected to bring possible rain across the plains on Jan 22 or 23,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president at Skymet. Daytime temperatures provided some respite on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature recorded at 20 degrees Celsius, close to the seasonal normal. On Tuesday, the maximum had reached 21.6 degrees Celsius. Delhi’s air quality remained at the higher end of the very poor category on Wednesday, with the 24-hour average air quality index recorded at 353, slightly lower than Tuesday’s 360. The AQI is expected to remain very poor at least until January 23.(With agency Inputs)