Flights likely to see delays, cancellations as thick fog envelops Delhi on Friday

Air quality deteriorates further, with Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping into ‘very poor’ category

New Delhi: Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of fog on Friday, with temperatures dropping to a minimum of 8 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated further, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 318 in the ‘very poor’ category, as the Central Pollution Control Board resumed data updates after a day-long pause.

The maximum and minimum temperatures are forecasted to be 17 degrees Celsius and 8 degrees Celsius, respectively. Visibility conditions worsened significantly at 6 am, leading authorities to take action to ensure safety. Flights that lack the necessary equipment for low-visibility landings, especially those not adhering to CAT III standards, are expected to experience delays or cancellations.

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The Safdarjung weather station considered the benchmark for Delhi’s climate, recorded a maximum temperature of 16.2 degrees Celcius earlier on Thursday, slightly up from 15 degrees Celcius the previous day but still three degrees below the normal mark.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), ‘cold day’ conditions are declared when the maximum temperature is 4.5 degrees Celcius or more below normal, provided the minimum temperature is below 10 degrees Celcius. While Safdarjung didn’t meet the criteria, the Palam, Najafgarh, Pusa, and Narela weather stations reported ‘cold day’ conditions. Relief, however, appears to be on the horizon as the IMD predicts a slight increase in temperatures over the coming days due to the influence of a fresh western disturbance. The maximum temperature in Delhi is expected to hover around 17 degrees Celcius on Friday and rise to 18 degrees Celcius by Saturday.

Reduced visibility caused potential disruptions at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Runway visibility ranged between 200 and 500 metres, while general visibility dropped to zero around 6 am. Flights equipped with low-visibility systems managed to land, but others faced delays and diversions.