Home / Weather / Delhi Freezes: Winter Chill Hits Lowest in 14 Years!
Delhi Freezes: Winter Chill Hits Lowest in 14 Years!
5 Dec
Summary
- Mercury dropped to 5.6°C, the lowest in the first week of December in 14 years.
- Cold wave conditions are expected to deepen with shallow morning fog.
- Air quality remains poor despite cold winds, in the 'very poor' zone.
The national capital, Delhi, was gripped by a severe winter chill on Thursday, recording a minimum temperature of 5.6°C at dawn. This is nearly 3.9°C below the seasonal normal and the lowest for the first week of December in at least 14 years. The sun offered little respite, with the maximum temperature hovering around 23.1°C, below the usual for this time of year.
Meteorological officials have issued a warning that the cold may intensify, predicting cold wave conditions at isolated pockets of the city accompanied by shallow morning fog on Friday. A cold wave is defined by specific criteria concerning minimum temperature drop below normal over consecutive days. This year's winter is projected to see more cold wave days than typical for Delhi.
While the cold winds provided a temporary reprieve from deteriorating air quality, the overall AQI remained in the 'poor' to 'very poor' category. Forecasts indicate that the AQI is likely to stay in the "very poor" zone for at least the next six days, posing a continued health concern for residents.
