Kolkata and surrounding areas in South Bengal are expected to experience more rain and fog. A yellow alert has been issued for Kolkata for December 22nd. The meteorological department has also issued cold wave and dense fog warnings for various regions across the country.
Delhi experienced its second-coldest day of the winter season on December 8th, with a maximum temperature of 23.7°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts fog and light rain for December 9th, with temperatures ranging from 8°C to 27°C. Read on for a detailed weather breakdown and affected areas.
Delhi woke up to its first dense fog of the season on Wednesday, causing widespread disruption at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) and sending air quality plummeting to ‘Very Poor’. Visibility dropped to zero meters at IGI, leading to flight diversions and delays, while the air quality index (AQI) soared to 366, marking the 15th consecutive day of ‘very poor’ air quality. The fog and worsening pollution brought health issues for residents, including eye irritation, runny noses, shortness of breath, and coughing.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash in May 2023. The crash, which also claimed the lives of seven others, was attributed to complex weather conditions and a thick fog, according to the final investigation report.
Auckland Airport is experiencing significant disruptions due to dense fog, leading to the cancellation of multiple domestic flights and delays for others. Air New Zealand has confirmed cancellations for ten departures and four arrivals, while international flights remain unaffected.
Over 20 flights to and from London’s Heathrow Airport were canceled on Saturday due to fog and air traffic control flow restrictions. British Airways was heavily impacted, grounding 18 flights, including domestic and European departures. Other airlines like Aer Lingus, Air France, and Lufthansa also experienced flight cancellations. Passengers faced delays and inconvenience, with some rebooked onto earlier departures. Airlines are obligated to provide assistance, including rebooking on alternative carriers for same-day travel and arranging meals and accommodation if necessary.
The South African Weather Service has predicted fine and warm to hot conditions for several provinces. However, extremely high fire danger conditions are anticipated in some Northern Cape areas. Cloudy conditions and morning fog are expected in other regions. Gauteng and Mpumalanga will experience fine and warm conditions, while Limpopo and the North West will face fine and warm to hot temperatures. The Free State will be fine and warm, while the Northern Cape will see morning fog patches and cloudy conditions along the coast. The Western Cape can expect cool coastal conditions and partly cloudy and warm temperatures in the interior. The eastern half of the Eastern Cape will be cloudy with fog in some interior areas, while the western half will be partly cloudy and cool. KwaZulu-Natal can expect cloudy conditions in the south and east, with isolated showers and rain possible in the south-east.
