Delhi experienced its coldest January morning in three years on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, as the minimum temperature fell to 3°C, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported. The main observatory at Safdarjung recorded 3°C, which is 4.4 degrees below the normal for this time of year. Other parts of the city also saw low temperatures: Palam at 4°C, Lodhi Road at 3°C, the Ridge at 4.4°C, and Ayanagar at 3.2°C. The IMD stated that cold wave conditions occur when temperatures drop 4.5 to 6.4 degrees below normal. These conditions are expected to continue on Wednesday, January 14. The day's maximum temperature is forecasted to stay at around 20°C. Amid this chill, Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'very poor' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 337, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Data from the CPCB's SAMEER app showed 29 monitoring stations in 'very poor', one in 'severe', and nine in 'poor' category. Anand Vihar recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 411, which falls under the 'severe' bracket. For context, an AQI between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.