At 6 degrees Celsius, Delhi shivers – the coldest day of the season so far

Delhi’s minimum temperature on Saturday was six degrees Celsius, the lowest so far this season, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The maximum temperature is expected to be around 20 degrees Celsius, with shallow fog likely during the day, according to the forecast.

According to the weather office, the minimum temperature was 2 degrees below the season’s normal.

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At 8 am, the national capital’s air quality index, or AQI, was 280, putting it in the ‘bad’ category.

An AQI of 0-50 is regarded as good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe.

India has been experiencing an increase in extreme weather occurrences, ranging from heavy rains triggering floods to scorching heat waves.

Due to the late exit of the southwest monsoon and more than normal low-pressure systems, the country experienced the largest number of incidents of extreme weather events in the last five years in September and October this year. And now, according to a new forecast, the winter will be even colder.

A weather phenomenon that is anticipated to exacerbate Asia’s energy dilemma is on the horizon, bringing with it harsher winters. In addition, due to La Nina that has been forming in the Pacific Ocean, north India may have the coldest/most intense winter.

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Last December saw the longest “cold day” streak in the month’s history, lasting 18 days and bringing the maximum temperature to an all-time low of 9.4 degrees C. On December 14, a day after heavy rain, that spell began about the same time. On December 12th, there was mild rain again this year.

When the highest temperature falls below 20 degrees and is at least 4.5 degrees below average, “cold day” conditions are declared. When the minimum temperature is less than 10 degrees Celsius and at least 4.5 degrees below normal, it is considered a cold wave. On Tuesday, both conditions were met, resulting in no relief from the cold for Delhi residents throughout the day. On December 28, 2019, the lowest minimum temperature ever recorded in December was 2.4 degrees Celsius. The lowest minimum temperature ever recorded was 0 degrees Celsius on December 27, 1930.

“There has been a sudden dip in maximum and minimum temperatures in the last two days due to cold winds blowing from the western Himalayan region to Delhi,” said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD’s Regional Weather Forecasting Centre.

On Wednesday, the minimum temperature is expected to drop to 3 degrees Celsius, with a maximum temperature of roughly 19 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD prediction. Until December 18, a cold wave and frigid days are expected in isolated areas.