Delhi recorded a slight increase in its minimum temperature on Friday, rising to 9°C, which is considered normal for this time of the year. This marks a marginal rise from Thursday’s low of 4.5°C, which had been the city’s coldest in three years for December. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed this temperature rise to localized factors, noting that the rest of northwest India did not experience significant changes in the past 24 hours.
The IMD stated that the temperature increase was mainly due to variable wind conditions in the region. “The rise in minimum temperatures is quite localized and can be attributed to the change in wind patterns. Most parts of northwest India have seen no significant change in temperatures,” an IMD official explained. The rise was particularly noticeable in areas like Patiala, Karnal, Rohtak, Delhi, Sikar, Alwar, and Phalodi, where the temperature increased by more than 2°C.
While no stations in Delhi recorded coldwave conditions on Friday, some areas in the northwest plains of India did experience a more than 3°C increase in minimum temperatures, including Sikar, Rohtak, Phalodi, and Safdarjung.
On the air quality front, Delhi continued to battle poor air quality levels, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering at 273 (considered ‘poor’) at 9 am on Friday, an improvement from Thursday’s reading of 288 (also ‘poor’). The IMD had issued a yellow alert for the day, forecasting that coldwave conditions would persist in the Delhi NCR region, with minimum temperatures expected to remain around 4°C.
Mahesh Palawat, Vice President at Skymet Meteorology, explained that the consistent northwesterly winds will continue blowing towards Delhi NCR until the weekend, with potential fluctuations in temperature during the night when the winds calm down.
In comparison to Delhi, the capital city’s temperature on Thursday was lower than popular hill stations such as Shimla (5°C) and Mussoorie (6.9°C). Pusa (3.2°C) and Ayanagar (3.8°C) were the coldest spots in Delhi on Thursday, experiencing coldwave conditions.
The IMD defines a coldwave as when the minimum temperature drops below 10°C, with a departure of 4.5°C or more below normal or when the minimum temperature falls to 4°C or lower.
As the capital battles both chilly temperatures and air pollution, authorities are closely monitoring the situation, advising residents to take necessary precautions against the cold and avoid outdoor activities due to the ‘poor’ air quality.
Sources By Agencies
