Month of January ranks among the coldest for Delhi. Monthly average temperature for January stands at 7.6°C as against 8.3°C of December. The excruciating cold starts from last week of December and rolls over to January, till the 3rdweek and then starts softening. January 2022 so far has troubled Delhi more on account of cold day than cold wave. Half way through the month, the capital city has not observed a single cold day and is not likely for the 3rd consecutive week.
The lowest minimum temperature during 1st fortnight of January was recorded in 2021 and was followed by 2020. Coincidentally, 01stJan has been the coldest in fairly large number of cases. Year 2016 was an exception when the lowest minimum dropped to 6.6°C, that too on 01st Jan.
The 1st half of Jan does not seem to be anywhere among the coldest. Minimum temperature remained in double digit on 6days as against the average of 7°C. For the next one week, mercury may stay below the normal by about 1-2°C but unlikely to breach mark of 5°C. January 2016 has been the warmest so far and last year it was one of the coldest.
The average temperature is about 1°C more than the monthly score. The next spell of rain for Delhi is expected not before 22ndJan. Mercury, till then may remain marginally below the normal. After 21stJan, minimum will rise again, may even go to double digit. Therefore monthly average may not break even by the end of the month. Jan 2022, in all probabilities may end with in +/- 0.5°C of mean monthly value.
