ThePrint ThePrintPod: Why is North India in the Grip of Dense Fog in March? Reason Revealed
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Mar 10, 2026 A deep dive into why North India woke up under dense fog in March. Meteorological causes are unpacked, from a western disturbance bringing moisture to calm winds trapping haze. The timeline of a sharp AQI spike is traced. Experts explain dust pickup over Pakistan and Thar and how fog can even trip power lines. Social media theories about distant smoke are examined and challenged.
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Western Disturbance Caused March Haze
- Western disturbances from the Mediterranean brought moisture and clouds over the Himalayas causing daytime haze in North India.
- Calm boundary-layer winds prevented dispersion, so moisture settled as fog despite warm daytime temperatures reaching 34°C in Delhi.
Local Fog, Not Foreign Smoke, Drove AQI Spike
- The AQI jumped from 172 on Friday to 246 on Saturday as fog and calm winds trapped pollutants near the surface.
- Social media linked the haze to West Asia strikes, but meteorologists stressed the rise was local and meteorological.
Wind Direction Prevented Iran Smoke Reaching Delhi
- Meteorologists including SkyMet said fumes from Iran are unlikely to reach Delhi because winds and directions don't support long-range transport.
- Winds picked up dust over Balochistan, central Pakistan and the Thar Desert, adding particulate matter to Delhi's haze.