Dense fog blankets Hyderabad on New Year morning; IMD explains why

Hyderabad woke up to dense fog on the morning of the New Year, with poor visibility reported across several parts of the city till around 9 a.m. on Thursday (January 1, 2026). The foggy conditions were caused by the accumulation of moisture in the lower levels of the atmosphere, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Speaking to The Hindu, Naga Ratna, Head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Centre Hyderabad, said moisture had built up close to the ground, leading to reduced visibility during the early morning hours.

“There was some accumulation of moisture at the lower levels of the atmosphere, within about 0.9 km to 1 km above the ground. This resulted in fog formation at the surface level,” she explained.

On whether similar conditions would persist, she said dense fog of the kind seen on New Year morning was unlikely to continue. “However, mild fog or mist could occur over the next day depending on prevailing conditions. The situation is not favourable for dense fog to continue, but there could be instances of mist or light fog,” she added.