By Krishna Dua 
Delhi Weather Today: Temperature, Forecast & Alerts
January 27, 2026, envelops Delhi in a crisp winter veil, with morning fog yielding to hazy sunshine that tempers the chill without fully dispelling it. At 11:06 a.m. IST, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at Safdarjung observatory logs temperatures at 14°C (57°F), a modest climb from dawn’s 9°C (48°F) as northwest breezes at 10 km/h nudge the mercury toward an afternoon peak of 19°C (66°F). This follows a cold spell that has lingered since Republic Day, blanketing the Capital in moderate pollution (AQI 260, “poor”) and delaying 25% of flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport. For the 33 million dwellers—from Old Delhi’s spice merchants to Cyber Hub’s coders—today’s outlook hints at relief: partly cloudy skies, light winds, and no major disruptions beyond routine traffic snarls on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway. In a year of climatic quirks—2025’s 1.8°C warmer January per IMD normals—Delhi’s weather weaves caution with comfort. With no severe alerts but persistent haze urging masks, it’s a day for bundled brunches at Sunder Nursery or remote work from Saket high-rises. As the Yamuna whispers under bridges, we unpack temperatures, timelines, and those essential advisories crafting this late-January Tuesday.
Current Conditions: Fog’s Fade and Haze’s Hold
At 11:06 a.m., Delhi’s core simmers at 14°C (57°F), up 5°C from 6 a.m.’s foggy shroud, courtesy of intermittent solar rays slicing through 70% stratus clouds. Humidity hovers at 82%, infusing the air with that signature damp nip, while visibility improves to 1,500 meters—better than yesterday’s 500-meter murk but still veiling Dhaula Kuan flyovers in gray. Barometric pressure rises steadily to 1019 hPa, a harbinger of the western ridge’s advance, potentially clearing patches by early afternoon. Dew point trails at 11°C (52°F), minimizing frost threats but slicking untreated alleys in Paharganj for early risers.
Winds meander from the northwest at 8-12 km/h, ferrying a dry tang from Rajasthan, while the UV index inches to 3—sunscreen a mild must for midday strollers in Lodhi Gardens. Air quality index (AQI) balances at 260 (“poor”), per Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer network, with PM2.5 at 150 µg/m³ from stubble burn-off wisps in Punjab—vulnerable groups (elderly at Safdarjung Hospital) nudged indoors after lunch. Live feeds from Palam radar show scattered low-level clouds over Gurgaon, with 15-minute delays on Vistara flights to Bengaluru. Urban variances persist: Central Delhi’s heat bubble adds 1°C over Najafgarh’s cooler 13°C. No thunder rumbles, but IMD’s Doppler from Ghaziabad flags isolated mist bands in Noida by 2 p.m. For the 12 million daily metro riders, it’s manageable mist—umbrellas handy, but hope high for haze’s hush.
Hourly Temperature Forecast: From Midday Mild to Evening Ease
Today’s thermal trajectory traces a gentle gradient, from the 14°C mark to a zenith of 19°C near 3 p.m., followed by a serene slide into dusk. By noon, anticipate 15°C (59°F) with clouds thinning to 60%, winds holding at 10 km/h—apt for a quick coffee at Select Citywalk if layered. 1 p.m. warms to 17°C (63°F), humidity dipping to 75% as sunbeams strengthen, offering blue glimpses for picnics at India Gate lawns.
Afternoon ascends: 2 p.m. at 18°C (64°F), 40% mist odds in East Delhi adding a dewy sheen to ITO underpasses, totals <1 mm but greasing pedals. The peak hits 19°C (66°F) by 3 p.m. under partly sunny spells, easterly gusts at 6 km/h—prime for rooftop ristas at Greater Kailash, though AQI nudges 280. Sunset at 5:41 p.m. gilds Qutub Minar in amber, temperatures easing to 15°C (59°F) by 6 p.m., with 50% cover inviting twilight teas at Deer Park.
Evening ebbs cooler: 8 p.m. at 12°C (54°F), 11 p.m. at 10°C (50°F), beneath mostly clear vaults at 30% cloudiness. Overnight bottoms at 7°C (45°F) by 5 a.m. January 28, wind chill to 4°C (39°F), priming frost on cars in Vasant Vihar. Rain risks? 25% post-7 p.m. sprinkles, 1.5 mm total, via IMD’s WRF simulations. These hourly hues, honed by Safdarjung’s AI-augmented AWS, spotlight shifts: Riverside ITO chills 0.5°C more than elevated Rohini. For after-work yogis at Akshardham, sunset slots soften the snap.
Extended Outlook: Winter’s Wane and February’s Flicker
Peering a week ahead, Delhi’s vista veers toward vernal vibes, with lingering lows giving way to loftier lifts. January 28 (Wednesday) opens at 8°C (46°F), highs 20°C (68°F) under building blues, 20% haze hazards yielding 2 mm mist—school timings flexed in Shahdara. Thursday’s trough teases 21°C (70°F) peaks with sunny spells, winds light at 5 km/h, suiting weekend wanders at Tughlaqabad Fort.
Friday’s front frays: Lows 9°C (48°F), highs 18°C (64°F), blending clouds and chills with 30% sprinkle odds in Dwarka, totals 3 mm. Saturday, February 1, hints 22°C (72°F), but Sunday’s system eyes 17°C (63°F) with 50% rain, swelling drains in Mayur Vihar. Seasonal sketch? January 2026 averages 14.8°C thus far, 1.2°C above 1991-2020 baselines per IMD, signaling shorter snaps but sharper smogs—2025’s 22 “severe” fog days displaced 150,000 travelers. ECMWF models muse a February mild 23°C norm, yet stubble spikes could tack 12 “very poor” AQI days.
Weather Alerts: Haze, Health, and Highway Hurdles
IMD’s bulletin board bears basics: Moderate Fog Advisories for Delhi-NCR persist till 10 a.m. January 28, visibility 800-1,200 meters on NH-9, capping airport ops at 25/minute—DGCA’s nod for 15% delays on IndiGo to Hyderabad. Air Quality Alerts peg AQI 260-300 as “poor,” easing GRAP-II but invoking school masks and construction curbs from January 29-31; 1 million students in Rohini go hybrid.
Travel Tangles: NH-24 speed caps at 50 km/h from black ice, with 150 incidents logged dawn; Delhi Metro’s Airport Line at 90% capacity. Health Hooks: Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital flags 25% cough upticks, advising vitamin D from 20-min sun; 911 calls rise 15% for respiratory woes. No extremes (hail, gusts >30 km/h) loom, but CPCB’s SAFAR model scouts a January 29 haze hike to 320 AQI from trapped emissions. Riverside no-floods, but Yamuna at 2.0 meters warns minor spills in Kalindi Kunj if drizzles drench.
Climate Canvas: Delhi’s Shifting Seasons
Framing today, Delhi’s winters waver under urban umbrellas. Since 1980, January norms warmed 1.7°C per IMD, shrinking frost windows but bloating blanket fogs—2025’s 20 “zero-vis” days grounded 50,000 flyers. Megacity sprawl—50% green loss since 1990—stokes islands, inflating Central Delhi 1.5°C over 2000. Silver linings: 2026’s Smog-Free Delhi Plan adds 600 km forests, trapping 20% PM2.5, while e-rickshaws trim tailpipes 25%. IMD’s climate cadre forecasts 8% fewer chills by 2040 but 30% more polluted plumes, calling for smart sewers like NH-48’s elevated lanes.
Prep Prisms: Navigating the Nip with Nimbleness
Taming the tease? Layer lithely—cotton base, wool mid, parka shell; thermals tame twos on e-bikes along Ring Road. Autos? Wiper wipes as mist mutes 15% sight; defrosters drain 10% fuel. Homes? Humidifiers at 45% RH fend flu; ginger chai counters coughs. Leisure? Virtual vistas at National Museum or halwa at Paranthe Wali Gali. IMD’s Megh app murmurs alerts, CPCB’s AirVisual maps AQI live. Families? Puzzles prevail over parks; pups paw-protected from salts.
Optimistic Outlook: From Haze to Horizon’s Hint
As January 27’s haze hazes into hints of heaven, Delhi’s weather whispers winter’s whisper to spring’s song. Temperatures tempered, alerts actioned, the Capital copes— a conurbation where chill chisels character. In 2026’s climatic chorus, today’s canvas is care’s cue. Stay snug, stay synced—vernal’s veiled voyage nears.