New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS): Dense fog blanketed the national capital on Friday with the visibility dropping to 400 meters and the air quality recorded under 'severe' category, the weather office said.

"The minimum temperature was recorded at 7.1 degrees Celsius, the season's average. At 8.30 a.m. the humidity was recorded at 100 per cent, while the visibility was recorded at 400 meters," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the overall air quality of the national capital was recorded in 'severe' category with the air quality index being at 449.

The weather office has predicted haze and smoke for the day.

"There was moderate to dense fog in the morning. The sky will remain mainly partly cloudy with haze and smoke thereafter," the official said.

The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 21 degrees Celsius.

On Thursday, the minimum temperature was recorded at 6.7 degrees Celsius, one notch below the season's average, while the maximum temperature settled at 25.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average.