Delhi covered in fog in May: Coldest May morning in 122 years

New Delhi : To the surprise of Delhi's residents, Thursday morning brought about an unusual occurrence of shallow fog in the city. Typically accustomed to hot and humid weather during this time of year, the sudden fog left people bemused. May is historically known as Delhi's hottest month, with an average maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius. However, on Thursday, the minimum temperature dropped to 15.8 degrees Celsius, marking it as the third coldest May morning since 1901.

The current weather pattern in Delhi has been characterized by cloudy skies, intermittent rainfall, and cool temperatures. Officials attribute this atypical climate to consecutive western disturbances impacting the northwest region of India. In response to the unique foggy conditions, residents took to social media to share videos and pictures capturing the fog enveloping the city's skyline.

Officials from the meteorological department explained that the presence of abundant moisture in the air, light winds, and a substantial contrast between daytime and nighttime temperatures contribute to the favorable conditions for fog formation.

As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), shallow fog is characterized by visibility ranging between 501 and 1,000 meters.

During the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Thursday, Delhi's main weather station, the Safdarjung Observatory, registered a rainfall of 30 mm.