As per the Met Department, the minimum forecasted temperature is 8 degrees Celsius for the day while the maximum temperature is anticipated to reach around 19 degrees Celsius along with "dense fog" blanketing the city.
In an update shared at 7.30 PM, Delhi Airport officials said that the visibility at the airport had improved, allowing all flight operations to resume.
"While landings and take-offs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted," Delhi Airport said in an advisory post
The Centre's panel on Delhi-National Capital Region's (NCR) air quality directed the authorities in the region to immediately implement curbs prescribed under stage 3 to prevent further worsening of the situation, an official order stated.
Taking to social media X, the authority wrote in a post "While landing and take offs continue at Delhi airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected."
Delhi recorded 41.2 mm rain in the past 24 four hours till 8.30 am on Saturday, marking the highest single-day December rainfall in 101 years, India Meteorological Department (IMD), said.
"Delhi's air quality has shifted from the 'severe' category to the 'poor' range. As a result, measures under Stage III, implemented earlier, are now being withdrawn," the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas said in a statement.
The airport authorities said that there has been no impact on flight operations. According to the Delhi Airport authorities, the passengers have been asked to contact the concerned airline to receive updated flight information.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI was recorded at 372 at 8 am on Thursday. On Wednesday, Delhi's AQI was at 360. Specific areas of the city also reported 'very poor' air quality, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 372, Ashok Vihar at 362, and Bawana at 376
CAT III, or Category III, is an approach system that allows flights to land safely during poor visibility conditions and ensures operational functionality for compliant flights.
The Central government's air quality monitoring panel on Tuesday revoked Stage IV ('Severe+') measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) following an improvement in air quality.
The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital remained in the 'severe' category on Wednesday, with a thin layer of fog covering parts of the city and limiting visibility.