Delhi's temperature has dropped significantly over the last four days but still remains above normal. The base station at Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 16.6°C today, a whisker above, yesterday’s low of 16.5°C. However, these temperatures have declined sharply from the earlier minimum of 21.1°C registered on 31st Oct 2024. Mercury levels varied largely over different parts of the capital city, wherein, Ridge observatory recorded a low of 13.1°C today morning, about 4°C below normal, as against 20.6°C at Pitampura, nearly 5°C above the normal.
The typical wintry flavour continues to stay away and is unlikely to arrive, anytime soon. As per the five-day normal temperature for November, the capital city starts with a minimum of about 15°C and plunges to 10°-11°C at the end of the month. November is the least rainiest month with an average of less than 4mm rainfall. Even other parts of the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan have the lowest rainfall during this period. Therefore, the winter chill descends only after a reasonable amount of rain and snow in the mid and higher reaches of the northern mountains.
The month of October as such, was the warmest on record for the country. For the national capital also, October was the warmest since the last 73 years. The average monthly maximum and minimum temperatures were 35.1°C and 21.4°C. The normal monthly minimum temperature for October stands at 19.1°C. The national capital had earlier recorded the lowest of 17.4°C on 15th Oct 2024. There was no rainfall at all during the month of October.
The temperatures are unlikely to sink sharply. The capital city will continue to observe the minimum temperature around 16°-17°C, for the next about 4 days. Courtesy anticyclone over Rajasthan, dry northwesterly winds will persist over and around the capital city. A western disturbance is arriving on 10th Nov and is likely to lash the mid and higher reaches of the mountains with scattered rain and snow between 10th and 12th Nov. The lower parts will just have a cloudy sky and no precipitation. Just before the arrival of the western disturbance, the seasonal anticyclone over Rajasthan will start getting distorted and displaced. The wind pattern will become variable and light. With such conditions, the minimum temperatures are likely to rise, once again. This will delay the arrival of winter chill, yet again. Typical winter flavours may sweep the city and suburbs, only after mid-November.