India’s two largest metropolitan cities experienced sharply contrasting weather conditions as the country stepped into 2026, with Delhi battling severe air pollution and an intense cold spell, while Mumbai woke up to unexpected early morning rainfall on New Year’s Day.
In the national capital, thick smog reduced visibility across several areas, including India Gate and Kartavya Path, during the early hours of Thursday. According to official data recorded at 8 am, Delhi’s Air Quality Index stood at 371, placing it firmly in the “very poor” category. The deteriorating air quality once again highlighted the capital’s persistent pollution crisis during the winter months.
Delhi also emerged as the most polluted city in the country on Thursday morning. Neighbouring Noida recorded an AQI of 364, while Ghaziabad stood at 338 and Greater Noida at 336, all falling under the very poor category. The widespread nature of the pollution indicated that the problem was not limited to Delhi alone but extended across the National Capital Region.
Alongside hazardous air quality, Delhi endured a biting cold spell at the close of 2025. The city recorded its coldest December day in six years on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature plunging to 14.2 degrees Celsius, around 6 degrees below the seasonal average. Data from the India Meteorological Department showed that the last time Delhi experienced a lower maximum temperature at the end of December was in 2019. The minimum temperature on Wednesday settled at 6.4 degrees Celsius, slightly below normal.
Meteorological officials have warned that colder conditions could intensify in the coming days. From January 3 onwards, minimum temperatures are expected to drop further as cold northerly winds from the Himalayan region move towards the national capital, potentially worsening both cold and pollution levels.
In stark contrast, Mumbai saw a wet start to the New Year. Several parts of the city, particularly the island areas, received rainfall early on Thursday morning. The showers began shortly before 6 am, catching many residents by surprise who were expecting a dry and mild winter morning. While some areas witnessed relatively heavy rain, others experienced light drizzle, with the intensity gradually reducing after around 6.15 am.
The unusual rainfall marked a rare weather pattern for Mumbai at this time of the year and added to the list of changing climatic trends being observed across Indian cities. As Delhi grappled with toxic air and cold conditions, Mumbai’s rainy welcome to 2026 underlined how uneven and unpredictable weather patterns have become across the country.