As the national capital gears up for the festive season, Delhiites have been cautioned to brace for an uncharacteristically biting cold as winter sets in, predicted to hit its peak around Christmas. Weather forecasts suggest a delayed and curtailed winter, attributed to the adverse impacts of climate change and global warming.
Recent temperature dips, notably Delhi recording a minimum of 4.9 degrees Celsius—nearly two notches lower than Shimla’s 6.8 degrees Celsius—mark the onset of a notably frosty period. Friday marked the coldest day for Delhi this season, second only to Hisar in Haryana, where temperatures plummeted to 4.2 degrees Celsius, according to Mahesh Palawat, Vice President at Skymet Weather.
Anticipating a further drop, weather experts point to an approaching western disturbance around December 16 and 17, potentially inducing snowfall in the Himalayas and translating to rainfall in the plains, including Delhi. A subsequent heavy snowfall prediction between December 23 and 25 across several northern states, encompassing Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, augurs low temperatures and misty conditions.
Western disturbances, recognized as cyclonic storms, typically herald winter rains in northern India. Despite the plummeting mercury, Delhi has yet to experience severe cold-wave conditions, with daytime temperatures remaining relatively higher.
Mr. Palawat underscored that though Delhi’s minimum temperature dipped, Shimla would likely feel colder due to its maximum temperature staying below 15 degrees Celsius. In Delhi, after the initial chill in the morning, temperatures have been ascending, reaching up to 24 degrees Celsius during the day.
Expressing concern, weather experts highlighted the changing climate patterns, emphasizing a shift in seasonal transitions. Traditionally, October to February heralded heavy snowfall and severe winters due to western disturbances, but this trend is diminishing. The weatherman indicated a shrinking winter period, attributing the warming trend to climate change.
Moreover, the duration of spring has evidently contracted, with temperatures rising in March, hastening the transition from winter to summer, bypassing the usual spring weather.
With forecasts indicating an extended spell of cold from the second week of December to the second week of January, Delhi’s denizens are urged to prepare for an atypical winter season, accentuated by the discernible impact of climate shifts on the city’s weather patterns.
Sources By Agencies
