You step out of the door at 7:00 AM in New Delhi today, January 15, 2026, and the air doesn't just feel cold—it feels like it’s trying to bite you. Honestly, "chilly" is a massive understatement. The official reading at the Safdarjung base station just clocked in at a bone-chilling 2.9°C. That is significantly lower than what we usually see this time of year, making it the coldest morning of the season so far.
If you're checking the weather in delhi now and seeing a bright yellow sun icon on your screen, don't let it fool you into thinking it's t-shirt weather. The contrast between the thermometer and the actual "feel" on the street is wild today. While the sun is trying its best to poke through, a massive blanket of dense fog has effectively hijacked the city's visibility.
🔗 Read more: Dollar Tree on Gull Road: What Most People Get Wrong
The Reality of the Delhi Chill Today
Early this morning, visibility at the IGI Airport and Palam dropped to a measly 50 meters. That’s basically like driving into a wall of milk. Safdarjung wasn’t much better, hovering around 100 meters. For anyone trying to catch a flight or a train, the "weather in delhi now" means one thing: delays. The IMD (India Meteorological Department) has officially issued a Yellow Alert because these cold wave conditions aren't just a fluke—they are sitting heavy over the National Capital Region.
You’ve probably noticed that the air feels remarkably dry. Humidity is sitting at roughly 32% this afternoon, which is weirdly low for a foggy day. Usually, fog and high humidity go hand-in-hand, but Delhi's winter has its own set of rules. The northwesterly winds are sweeping in from the snow-clad Himalayas, and they are bringing that dry, piercing cold that makes your skin crack.
Temperature Breakdown for January 15, 2026:
- Morning Low: 2.9°C (Record low for the season)
- Afternoon High: Expected to hover around 20°C to 21.4°C
- Sunset: 5:46 PM (Expect the temperature to plummet the second the sun dips)
- Wind Speed: Gentle but sharp, around 7 to 13 km/h from the Northwest
The strange thing about Delhi’s weather right now is the "Cold Day" phenomenon. A "Cold Day" is a technical term used by the Met department when the minimum temperature is below 10°C and the maximum temperature is significantly below normal. Even if it's sunny, the lack of warmth in the sunlight means you'll likely keep that heater on until at least noon.
The Invisible Problem: Bad Air on a Good Day
There’s a massive misconception that a blue sky means clean air. Kinda wish that were true. Unfortunately, the air quality today is sitting in the "Very Poor" to "Severe" bracket. Most stations are reporting an AQI of 352 or higher.
Specific pockets are even worse. Anand Vihar is gasping at 345, while ITO and RK Puram have spiked past 380. Why? Because the cold air is dense. It acts like a lid on a pot, trapping all the vehicular exhaust and construction dust right where we breathe. Unless we get a strong Western Disturbance to "wash" the atmosphere with rain, we are basically living inside a giant, cold smudge.
💡 You might also like: Black and White Penny Tile: Why This 1900s Trend is Actually Riskier Than You Think
Health Tips for Today’s Atmosphere:
- Skip the early morning jog: If you're an outdoor runner, today is a bad day for it. The combination of 2.9°C air and 350+ AQI is a recipe for a lung infection. Wait until at least 11:00 AM when the sun has dispersed some of the surface-level pollutants.
- Layering is key: You need three layers today. A base thermal, a sweater, and a windbreaker. The windbreaker is crucial because those northwesterly gusts will cut right through wool.
- Hydrate: You don't feel thirsty when it's this cold, but the 32% humidity will dehydrate you fast.
What's Coming Next?
Is there an end in sight? Sorta.
The meteorologists at Skymet and the IMD are eyeing a fresh Western Disturbance that’s supposed to hit the Himalayan region by late tonight. Usually, when a disturbance approaches, it changes the wind direction from northwesterly (cold) to easterly (warmer). This means we might see the night temperatures "warm up" to maybe 6°C or 7°C by Friday or Saturday.
But don't get too excited. This same system might bring light rain toward the end of the week. While rain is a pain for commuters, it’s exactly what Delhi needs to scrub the air clean. There’s even talk of a more active system hitting around January 22, which could make for a very wet and grey Republic Day lead-up.
🔗 Read more: How to Actually Style Wayfair Pillows and Throws Without Making Your Couch Look Like a Showroom
Why the "Feel" Temperature is Different
You might see 21°C on your phone and think it’s a lovely spring day. It’s not. In Delhi, the "perceived temperature" is often 2 to 3 degrees lower because of the wind chill and the lack of direct solar radiation through the smog. If you are standing in the shade today, it will feel like 17°C even if the thermometer says 21°C.
People often forget that Delhi homes are built to stay cool in the 45°C summers. We don’t have central heating. Our marble and stone floors turn into ice blocks. This is why the weather feels more "extreme" here than it might in a city like London or New York at the same temperature.
Actionable Advice for New Delhi Residents
If you are navigating the city today, do yourself a favor and check the visibility updates before you leave. If you can't see the neighbor's house, the Barapullah Flyover is going to be a nightmare.
- Check flight status: Don't just trust the scheduled time. IGI Airport has been seeing "CAT III" fog conditions, which means even the most advanced landing systems are struggling.
- Use an N95: A regular cloth mask won't do much against the PM2.5 levels we're seeing in Wazirpur or Ashok Vihar today.
- Seal the gaps: Use towels or "door snakes" at the bottom of your balcony doors. The draft coming in today carries both the cold and the soot.
The weather in delhi now is a classic example of Northern India's "January Peak." It's beautiful if you're sitting behind a glass window with a cup of adrak wali chai, but it's harsh if you're out on the road. Stay warm, keep the mask on, and maybe skip the bike ride tonight if you can.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the wind direction changes expected tomorrow evening; if the wind shifts to the east, the biting "cold wave" will officially break, offering some relief before the potential rains arrive this weekend.