Cold and nippy conditions are likely to continue for Delhi. Base station, Safdarjung recorded low of 6.5°C, straight drop of 3.1°C from yesterday. The normal minimum temperature around this time is about 7°C. The lowest in the region was at Jafarpur with 5.5°C and 1°C below the normal. The maximum temperature at 14.3° was also below normal by 6°C.
After the recent spell of snow in the hills and rain over the plains, the mercury has dropped leaving pockets of ‘cold’. There is a cyclonic circulation in the proximity of capital city at a height of 5000’ and above. This feature is resulting easterly winds at these levels and is likely to persist for the next 4days.
This pattern is shielding Delhi from any excruciating cold during the week. Notwithstanding, the winds up to the friction level of 3000’ remain northwesterly. This airmass is dry and cold, down the slopes of mountains, sweeping the national capital. The cyclonic circulation will also provide partial thin cloud cover tomorrow evening and again on 16th&17th Jan. This will restrict sharp plummeting of mercury level below 5°C.
January is the coldest month for the national capital. Jan 2021 had started with a low of 1.1°C and recorded minimum of less than 5°C on 11days during the month. The temperature was consistently in single digit from 10thJan onward and recorded low of 2°C in between on 14thJan and 2.1°C on the Republic Day. No rainfall was recorded after 06thJan2021.
This January will be largely different with minimum temperatures rarely plunging below 5°C. Another spell of clouds and rain is quite likely around 20thJan. Any major drop in the minimum temperatures will get restricted around that time. The normal temperatures, as such, have a trend to rise to 8-9°C by fag end of the month.
