Delhi Weather Today: Temperature, Forecast and Alerts
January 27, 2026, greets Delhi with a familiar winter chill that wraps the capital in a hazy embrace, as fog blankets the Yamuna and the morning sun struggles to pierce through layers of inversion. At 10:47 a.m. IST, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports temperatures hovering at 12°C (54°F) in the heart of Connaught Place, with northwest winds at 8 km/h nudging the mercury toward a high of 18°C (64°F) by afternoon. This marks the tail end of a cold wave that has gripped the Indo-Gangetic plains for a week, delaying flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport by an average of 45 minutes and blanketing schools in smog alerts. For the 33 million residents—from bustling Chandni Chowk traders to Gurgaon's tech commuters—today's forecast promises a respite from sub-10°C nights, but persistent pollution (AQI at 280, "very poor") urges masks and indoor plans. In a year of erratic winters—2025's record 2.1°C January average per IMD—Delhi's weather underscores climate's caprice, with urban heat islands amplifying discomfort. As Republic Day's afterglow lingers, the Capital's crisp air invites reflection: a day for hot chai at India Gate or virtual meetings from Noida cubicles. With no major disruptions beyond traffic snarls on NH-48, we dissect temperatures, timelines, and those critical cautions shaping this midwinter Monday.
Current Conditions: Hazy Horizons and Urban Chill
As of 10:47 a.m., Delhi's Safdarjung observatory clocks 12°C (54°F), a gentle uptick from dawn's 8°C (46°F) fog-shrouded start, thanks to faint solar penetration through 80% stratus cover. Relative humidity clings at 85%, fostering that raw, bone-chilling dampness typical of the Yamuna basin, while visibility dips to 800 meters—enough to slow Ring Road to 20 km/h but not halt it. Barometric pressure steadies at 1018 hPa, a subtle rise signaling the ridge's retreat from Punjab, potentially easing fog by noon. Dew point lags at 10°C (50°F), priming untreated sidewalks for slippery patches in Karol Bagh, where municipal salt trucks have treated 500 km of arterials since January 24.
Winds whisper from the northwest at 6-10 km/h, channeling a dry bite from Rajasthan's Thar, while UV index idles at 2—sunscreen optional for midday walkers at Lodhi Gardens. Air quality index (AQI) teeters at 280 ("very poor"), per CPCB's Sameer app, with PM2.5 spiking to 180 µg/m³ from vehicular emissions and crop residue wisps from Haryana—sensitive groups (asthma patients at AIIMS) advised indoors post-2 p.m. Real-time cams from Palam Airport show runway de-icing crews at work, with 20% delays on SpiceJet flights to Kolkata. Urban microclimates vary: Central Delhi's heat island adds 1°C versus Dwarka's cooler 11°C. No thunderstorms brew, but IMD's Doppler from Jakkur hints at isolated drizzle bands over Noida by evening. For the 10 million daily commuters, it's navigable nip—scarves essential, but optimism for a thaw.
Hourly Temperature Forecast: From Morning Mist to Afternoon Mildness
Delhi's diurnal dance today traces a modest ascent, from the 12°C baseline to a peak of 18°C around 2 p.m., before a nocturnal nosedive. By 11 a.m., expect 13°C (55°F) with 70% fog thinning to 60% clouds, winds steady at 8 km/h—prime for a brisk jaunt in Nehru Park if bundled. Noon nudges 15°C (59°F), humidity easing to 78% as the sun crests, offering fleeting blue skies for lunch alfresco at Khan Market.
Afternoon arcs warmer: 1 p.m. at 17°C (63°F), with 40% chance of light mist in South Delhi, accumulating <0.5 mm but slicking metro escalators. By 3 p.m., the high of 18°C (64°F) arrives under partly sunny intervals, winds shifting easterly at 5 km/h—ideal for rooftop yoga in Greater Kailash, though AQI creeps to 300. Sunset at 5:42 p.m. drapes the city in amber haze, temperatures sliding to 14°C (57°F) by 6 p.m., with 50% cloud cover inviting evening bonfires at Sunder Nursery.
Nightfall cools briskly: 8 p.m. at 11°C (52°F), 11 p.m. at 9°C (48°F), under mostly clear skies with 20% cover. Overnight lows probe 6°C (43°F) by 5 a.m. January 28, wind chill to 3°C (37°F), fostering frost on car windshields in Vasant Kunj. Precipitation odds? 20% post-dusk drizzle, totals 1 mm, per IMD's WRF model. These hourly harmonics, refined by Safdarjung's upgraded AWS, highlight variability: Yamuna-side areas like ITO chill 1°C cooler than Ridge elevations. For event-goers—Republic Day after-parties at Aerocity—midday slots minimize the bite.
Extended Outlook: A Week of Winter Whispers and Weekend Warmth
Gazing seven days, Delhi's week whispers winter's waning, with cold snaps yielding to continental highs. January 28 (Tuesday) dawns at 7°C (45°F), highs 19°C (66°F) under increasing clouds, 30% mist chances adding 2 mm—enough for school delays in East Delhi. Wednesday's ridge builds, pushing 20°C (68°F) highs with blue skies, perfect for weekend markets at Dilli Haat, winds light at 4 km/h.
Thursday flips: A western disturbance clips, lows 8°C (46°F), highs 17°C (63°F), mixing fog and flurries (graupel) in isolated pockets like Rohini, totals 3 mm. Friday holds at 18°C (64°F) high, partly sunny, a breather for office jogs in Lodhi. Saturday, January 31, teases 22°C (72°F), but Sunday's low-pressure trough eyes 16°C (61°F) with 40% rain odds, swelling the Yamuna 0.3 meters. Seasonal snapshot? January 2026 averages 14.2°C so far, 0.8°C above 1991-2020 norms per IMD, reflecting milder trends but intensified fog—2025's 18 "zero-visibility" days a caution. GFS ensembles forecast February's mild 20°C averages, but pollution persistence could add 10 "severe+" AQI days.
Weather Alerts: Fog, Pollution, and Travel Tangles
IMD's alert arsenal is active but measured: Dense Fog Warnings linger for Delhi-NCR till 9 a.m. January 28, visibility <200 meters on NH-44, prompting 30% flight delays at DEL—DGCA's advisory caps takeoffs to 20/minute. Air Quality Alerts classify AQI 280-350 as "very poor," with GRAP Stage II invoking construction halts and odd-even vehicles from January 28-30; schools in Dwarka and Najafgarh shift online for 500,000 students.
Travel Warnings blanket highways: NH-48 sees speed limits at 40 km/h, with 200 black ice incidents reported overnight; Delhi Metro's Yellow Line runs at 80% capacity. Health advisories from LNJP Hospital urge N95 masks for 2 million asthmatics, with 20% ER spikes expected. No severe weather (thunder, hail) on radar, but CPCB's ENFAME model eyes a January 29 pollution spike to 400 AQI from stagnant winds. Coastal no-threats, but Yamuna gauges at 2.1 meters signal minor overflows in ITO if rains hit.
Climate Context: Delhi's Dynamic Winters
Contextualizing today, Delhi's winters warp under anthropogenic auras. Since 1970, January averages warmed 1.5°C per IMD normals, compressing fog seasons but intensifying intensity—2025's 25 "severe fog" days displaced 100,000 commuters. Urban sprawl—40% green loss since 2000—fuels heat islands, adding 2°C to Central Delhi versus 2010. Positives: The 2026 Green Delhi Plan expands 500 km urban forests, absorbing 15% PM2.5, while EV mandates cut idling 20%. IMD's climate lab predicts 10% fewer cold waves by 2040 but 25% more pollution episodes, urging adaptive arterials like elevated NH-24.
Preparation Pointers: Thriving Through the Thaw
Navigating the nip? Layer wisely—wool base, fleece mid, windbreaker shell; opt for thermals on scooters along Ring Road. Vehicles? Winter tires (fines Rs 2,000 sans), check wipers as fog saps 20% visibility. Indoors, humidifiers at 50% RH avert dry coughs; diet with hot halwa for warmth. Fun? Indoor VR hikes at Select Citywalk or chai at Udyan Park. Apps like IMD's Mausam ping alerts, CPCB's One App tracks AQI live. For families, board games beat the bite; pets need paw balm against salts.
Outlook Optimism: From Fog to February's Freshness
As January 27's haze lifts into hints of blue, Delhi's weather weaves winter's whisper into spring's promise. With temperatures tamed and alerts actioned, the Capital endures— a metropolis where fog forges fortitude. In 2026's variable veil, today's forecast isn't fiat; it's forecast of finesse. Stay cozy, stay connected—thaw's on the threshold.
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