Several parts of Delhi-NCR experienced haze and shallow fog on Saturday morning, in a rare weather event for April. Experts said this unusual condition was caused by a mix of recent rainfall, slightly lower night temperatures, and high moisture in the air, which led to condensation near the surface during early hours.

Combination of Weather Factors Behind Fog

Weather experts explained that the foggy conditions were not due to a single reason but a result of multiple factors over the past two days.

Mahesh Palawat, president of Skymet Weather, said that light rainfall on Friday increased moisture levels in the atmosphere. At the same time, a slight drop in temperature and clear skies at night created the perfect conditions for fog formation.

“Hazy conditions were seen in parts of Delhi NCR as the temperature reduced and it rained over the past couple of days. So, there was heavy moisture in the air along with clear skies that led to such a morning that may sometimes occur during March-April,” he said.

Temperature Conditions Supported Fog Formation

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 20.7°C on Saturday. This was 1.9 degrees above normal, but still low enough, combined with high moisture, to allow fog to form.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also pointed out that recent western disturbances and cloud cover helped control temperatures and increased humidity, contributing to the foggy conditions.

Pleasant Day Despite Foggy Start

Although the morning began with haze, the weather improved as the day progressed. The afternoon remained mild and comfortable, with temperatures lower than usual for early April.

The maximum temperature reached 32°C, which was about 2 degrees below normal. This continued the trend of relatively cooler daytime conditions in the capital.

Light Rainfall Recorded Across the City

Rainfall activity remained low during the day. Safdarjung, Delhi’s main weather station, recorded only 0.5 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending Saturday morning.

However, some areas saw more rain. Ayanagar recorded 5.8 mm during the same period. The IMD said most parts of Delhi received light to very light rainfall, along with gusty winds and cloudy skies.

More Clouds and Rain Expected

According to the IMD’s latest forecast, Delhi is likely to experience mild weather over the next few days. There may be intermittent clouds, with chances of light rain or thundershowers, especially on Sunday evening.

IMD stated, “Delhi is likely to continue experiencing relatively mild conditions over the next few days, with intermittent cloud cover and chances of light rain or thundershowers likely in the evening on Sunday.”

Fresh Western Disturbance to Bring Rain

Mahesh Palawat added that daytime temperatures may rise slightly on Sunday and Monday. However, another spell of rain is expected from Monday night due to a fresh western disturbance.

“The active western disturbance is expected to impact northwest India around April 7 and 8, potentially bringing a fresh spell of rainfall Monday night onwards, with thunderstorms and gusty winds across Delhi-NCR,” said Palawat.

The IMD also said that temperatures are likely to stay near or below normal for most of the coming week, delaying the arrival of typical early summer heat.

Air Quality Improves Sharply

The change in weather also brought a noticeable improvement in Delhi’s air quality. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped significantly from 266 (poor) on Friday to 137 (moderate) on Saturday.

Experts said this improvement was due to favourable weather conditions, including rain, wind, and better atmospheric circulation.