The national capital has observed only one cold day so far, this season. Day maximum temperature had plummeted to 12.5°C, about 7°C below the normal. The minimum temperature was also below the 10°C mark, the essential requisite for declaring cold day conditions. For cold day conditions, the maximum temperature needs to be below 16°C and departure of 4.5°C or more from the normal. Cold day conditions, which have largely eluded Delhi so far, are likely to return with a vengeance and may prevail for long.
Earlier, the month of December conspicuously missed cold day conditions, in its entirety. Actually, there were no cold days and cold wave conditions during December 2023, which is not a common event to be witnessed. The month of December 2023 was among the warmest in the last 6 years. Both, the maximum and minimum temperatures clocked above normal mercury levels, more so, for the day temperatures. As per the record observatory at Safdarjung, the monthly average turned out to be 24.1°C against the normal of 22.8°C and the mean monthly minimum temperature stood at 8.6°C, marginally above the stipulated mean of 8.4°C.
During the first 8 days of Jan 2024, there have been large fluctuations in day and night temperatures. The week registered a lowest of 12.5°C on 05th Jan and a highest of 18.8° on 07th Jan, as the day maximum. Also, the highest minimum was in the double digits on the first day of the month and the lowest of 5.3°C, today morning. This season, 05thJan is the only cold day so far recorded by the Safdarjung observatory. More days are likely to follow.
Delhi may observe the 2nd cold day of the season today wherein the day maximum is likely to get arrested around 15°C or lower. There is a thick layer of lifted fog, obscuring the sun and blocking the sunshine. Unlike yesterday, when the sun could manage to sneak through the layer of mist and fog, it is unlikely today, At best, the sun could be visible only behind the screen of clouds, manifested as lifted fog.
Subdued chances of rain, as predicted earlier, have diminished further. Hardly any hope of sprinkling over and around the capital city. Dry and cold northwesterly winds, down the slopes of mountains, are likely to pick up, sprucing bite in the air. The persistence of dense fog, lifting to obscure the sunshine during the day will suppress the mercury levels. This is likely today and may go on thereafter, till interrupted by a fresh weather system, no insight so far. Accordingly, the figure for a number of cold days may climb through this week. Cold conditions may intensify for Delhiites for the entire week.
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