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Delhi faces another smoggy morning on December 18, 2025, with dense fog and hazardous AQI levels. GRAP measures are in force, schools and traffic may be affected. Can the city breathe easy, or is the pollution set to worsen?
Dense fog and poor air quality have already affected visibility on roads
New Delhi: Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) are experiencing winter weather marked by lingering fog and seriously poor air quality as of Thursday, 18 December 2025.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that while skies will largely be clear during the day, shallow to moderate fog is likely in many areas early in the morning, with visibility remaining reduced in spots.
According to the IMD’s weekly bulletin, foggy conditions, particularly during early morning hours, are expected to continue through December 22. On 18 December, temperatures are forecast to range between 8°C and 10°C for the minimum and 23°C to 25°C for the maximum, with shallow to moderate fog in parts of the city.
The fog, combined with calm winter conditions, is typical for this time of year and contributes to trapping pollutants close to the ground creating a “smog trap” effect that worsens air quality and reduces visibility for motorists and commuters.
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Despite slight improvements over recent days thanks to stronger winds dispersing some pollutants Delhi’s air quality remains a serious concern. Latest data shows the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering in the very poor category, following a period where it reached severe levels.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reports that many monitoring stations across the city continue to record unhealthy pollution levels. Experts warn that this trend is likely to persist, with AQI expected to oscillate between very poor and severe categories in the coming days if weather conditions remain unchanged.
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Dense fog and poor air quality have already affected visibility on roads and could disrupt travel and transport services, including flights during early hours. Residents, especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or cardiovascular issues, are advised to limit prolonged outdoor exposure and consider wearing protective masks when venturing outside.
Meteorologists say that winter pollution peaks are typical in Delhi, driven by a combination of lower temperatures, stagnant air, and fog. Continued monitoring and stricter pollution curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) may help ease the crisis, but weather patterns will play a significant role in how the situation unfolds through the rest of December.
