New Delhi: Breaking a seven-year-old record,
dense fog kept the IGI airport under its cover for 172 hours,
so far this month, disrupting schedules of over 1,200 domestic
and international flights and causing cancellation of 200
others.
"Dense fog, this January, has broken the record of
January 2003 and has enveloped the airport for 172 hours. In
January 2003, thick fog had kept the airport under wraps for
168 hours," R K Jenamani, Director-in-charge of Airport Met
Department told PTI.
However, in any month during the fog season, December
1998 holds the record of having the longest duration of fog
that had engulfed the airport for 179 hours.
But, if this condition prevails and with three days
still left in the month of January, fog could easily break the
record of December 1998, he said.
Fog season is generally considered from November to
February, with the months of December and January witnessing
the longest durations of dense fog.
On an average, dense fog is witnessed for just three to
five hours during the months of November and February while
December and January experiences about 95 per cent of dense
fog durations.
"The conditions were conducive this time for formation of
dense fog as there was less difference between day and night
temperatures and also there was no winds," Jenemani said.
PTI
