Delhi woke up to fog and a chill more typical of January than late March, just a day after record rain activity unsettled weather across the city. Visibility dipped in several areas early Sunday, while minimum temperatures dropped sharply, creating an unusual overlap of winter-like mornings and pre-summer afternoons. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now warned that another spell of rain could hit the capital early this week.
Explaining the phenomenon, Mahesh Palawat from Skymet told ToI: "Overnight the sky remained clear, which led to cooling of the ground. That is one of the reasons that minimum temperature fell drastically to 13 degrees Celsius, which is normally seen in Feb. There was already sufficient moisture, which mounted further with moisture-laden winds during the morning hours. So, earth surface winds got condensed and this led to the formation of fog.
March 22: Partly cloudy sky becoming generally cloudy by night; temperatures around 29–31°C and 13–15°C.
March 23: Generally cloudy sky with possibility of light rain accompanied with thunderstorm/lightning during forenoon to afternoon.
March 24: Partly cloudy skies return with similar temperatures around 30–32°C.
March 25–27: Partly cloudy conditions dominate, with temperatures gradually rising to 32–34°C by the end of the week.
IMD also noted that maximum temperatures, currently below normal, will rise by 4–6°C in the short term before stabilising.
This gap is expected to narrow as the week progresses, especially once cloud cover reduces and rain activity weakens.
Fog after rain: What caused this sudden winter feel?
The sudden fog was not seasonal, but a short-lived effect triggered by a mix of rain-soaked air and overnight cooling. After days of cloud cover, skies cleared during the night, allowing heat to escape quickly from the surface.Explaining the phenomenon, Mahesh Palawat from Skymet told ToI: "Overnight the sky remained clear, which led to cooling of the ground. That is one of the reasons that minimum temperature fell drastically to 13 degrees Celsius, which is normally seen in Feb. There was already sufficient moisture, which mounted further with moisture-laden winds during the morning hours. So, earth surface winds got condensed and this led to the formation of fog.
Delhi Weather Forecast: IMD predicts rain, clouds, then gradual warming next week
The official IMD forecast shows that Delhi’s weather will stay unstable for a few more days before temperatures climb steadily:March 22: Partly cloudy sky becoming generally cloudy by night; temperatures around 29–31°C and 13–15°C.
March 23: Generally cloudy sky with possibility of light rain accompanied with thunderstorm/lightning during forenoon to afternoon.
March 24: Partly cloudy skies return with similar temperatures around 30–32°C.
March 25–27: Partly cloudy conditions dominate, with temperatures gradually rising to 32–34°C by the end of the week.
IMD also noted that maximum temperatures, currently below normal, will rise by 4–6°C in the short term before stabilising.
Delhi temperature still below normal
Despite the daytime rise, temperatures in Delhi are still running below what is typical for late March. Recent readings showed maximum temperatures in the 26–27°C range and minimums around 12–13°C, both lower than seasonal averages.This gap is expected to narrow as the week progresses, especially once cloud cover reduces and rain activity weakens.
