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Delhi chokes under a thick haze while Uttarakhand wakes to icy winds — is North India slipping into winter or trapped in rising smog? IMD’s latest forecast reveals a surprising twist in the weather pattern this week.
Air quality remains ‘poor’ in Delhi.
New Delhi: The national capital began its Sunday morning under a layer of haze, with the temperature recorded at around 23°C at 9 AM. As the city stirred awake, sunlight filtered weakly through the smoggy skies, signaling yet another warm and polluted October day for Delhiites.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city will remain under hazy sunshine throughout the day, with maximum temperatures likely to reach 30-31°C by afternoon.
Minimum temperature by late night may dip to around 19°C, offering mild relief. Winds are expected to remain calm at 6-8 km/h, which may prevent the dispersion of pollutants.
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Morning commuters across several parts of Delhi and NCR reported reduced visibility due to the haze. Pollution monitoring agencies have placed the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) in the ‘poor’ category, hovering between 230–270 in areas like Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, and Dwarka.
Experts warn that particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels are likely to climb further as stubble burning intensifies in Punjab and Haryana in the coming days.
IMD officials said the haze is a mix of moisture, dust, and pollution trapped due to weak surface winds. “The pattern is typical of late October in Delhi. Until there’s a change in wind direction or rainfall, haze and smog will persist,” informed an IMD scientist.
By afternoon, the national capital is expected to witness warm conditions under hazy sunshine, while the evening will remain comparatively pleasant with temperatures near 26°C. No rainfall or strong winds are expected, keeping humidity levels between 55-65 per cent through the day.
Neighbouring Uttar Pradesh is also witnessing a dry and warm spell, with most regions starting the day at 24-25°C. The IMD’s regional centre in Lucknow has forecast a sunny morning followed by partial cloud cover by late afternoon. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 32°C in Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, and Varanasi, while western districts like Agra and Meerut could touch 33°C.
Despite the heat during the day, nights will remain relatively pleasant with temperatures settling between 21-22°C. The weather office has ruled out any rain activity for the next three days, maintaining a dry trend across the plains. Farmers in eastern UP are advised to continue harvesting operations as no weather disruptions are anticipated.
The IMD noted that light north-westerly winds will prevail, keeping humidity moderate. However, parts of western UP may see light morning haze, similar to Delhi-NCR, due to low wind movement and increased vehicular emissions.
Meanwhile, the hill state of Uttarakhand woke up to a cool and refreshing morning, with minimum temperatures dropping to 13°C in Dehradun, 10°C in Nainital, and 8°C in Mussoorie.
Hazy sunshine covered most valleys, while high-altitude districts such as Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar recorded even cooler starts, dipping close to 6°C.
Daytime temperatures are expected to rise moderately to 20-21°C in Dehradun and Almora, offering comfortable conditions for residents and tourists. The IMD has predicted clear skies across the state, with no chance of rain in the next 48 hours. The crisp mornings and mild afternoons mark the transition toward early winter conditions in the Himalayan foothills.
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Tourist destinations like Nainital and Ranikhet have already started witnessing evening chills, prompting local hotels to prepare for the upcoming Diwali tourism rush. Authorities have advised travellers to carry warm clothing as night temperatures in hill areas could drop to single digits over the next few days.
Delhi: Hazy sunshine, max 31°C, min 19°C; air quality ‘poor’.
Uttar Pradesh: Dry and sunny, max 32°C, mild nights around 21°C.
Uttarakhand: Clear skies, max 21°C, chill deepening at night.
With no major weather system active in North India, the next 48 hours are expected to remain dry. However, the rising haze over Delhi and neighbouring states continues to be a growing environmental concern as the region heads into November.
