The national capital has recorded a minimum temperature of under 10°C, for the last 4 consecutive days. Prior to that, the minimum remained in double digits and went up to 15°C, about 2°C above the normal. Today, the base observatory Safdarjung recorded 8.8°C, the lowest of the current spell and about 5°C below the normal. The meteorological office at Lodhi Road was a shade lower at 8.4°C. The maximum temperature also has been running below normal by about 3-4°C.
As per the pentad normal, Delhi has a normal of 27-28°C of day temperature and 13-14°C of minimum temperature in the first week of March. The mean temperature of the first week, between 01st to 07th March 2024 has been recorded as 10.8°C, which is about 2-3°C below the normal. This happens to be the coolest week of the last 5 years and the second coolest of the last 10 years.
The coolest first week in the last 10 years was in March 2019, with an average of 10.5°C. There were two aberrations in the first of March 2019, when the minimum temperature of 6.8°C and 9°C were recorded on 01st and 07th March. The minimum temperatures had risen to double-digit during the second week and stayed close to the normal. However, Delhi's temperature is unlikely to shoot up during the next week. These may barely touch double digits, with a margin of +/- 1°C. Therefore, the first-fortnight minimum temperature of Delhi may be lower this year, as compared to March 2019.
Western disturbance is moving across the mountains over North India. It is likely to clear the area on 09th March. A fresh western disturbance is likely to approach on 10th March. Its influence will remain confined to the hills for an initial 48 hours. Delhi/NCR will have its impact on 12th and 13th March. Changes in the wind pattern will lead to the rise of minimum temperature. The induced cyclonic circulation may trigger a few showers on the 12th and 13th Mar. This prediction will need confirmation after 24-48 hours.