Delhi is likely to observe light rain and showers on Friday and Saturday. Sunday will find clearance, albeit with a typical foggy morning and sun obscured for a longer duration than normal. Dry and cold conditions will extend to the next week and New Year's Eve will find chill and nip with misty nights restricting open-air festivities. The mercury has dipped to 5°C or less for the last six successive years around New Year's Eve with the lowest of 2.4°C on 28th Dec 2019. The lowest temperature has always remained under 7°C, since 2007. This year is not going to be any different and the revellers will have to brace the mercury hovering between 6°-7°C on 31stevening/night.
A cyclonic circulation is marked over parts of northeast Rajasthan in the lower levels. This will shift to Delhi and South Haryana, early tomorrow and further east over West Uttar Pradesh, the next day. On all these three days, between 26th and 28thDec, the cyclonic feature remains in the close proximity to the national capital. This feature is also getting fueled by moist winds. The weather activity, which starts late in the evening/tonight in the lightest form will spread its cover and scale, tomorrow morning. The remnant system will keep the impact on Saturday as well, during the daytime and start shrinking and exiting towards midnight/wee hours.
The month of December has so far recorded the lowest temperature of 4.5°C on 16thDecember 2024. Invariably, the last week of December turns out to be the coldest. It may defy this norm and follow a repeat of last year when the lowest minimum temperature was 4.9°C recorded on 15thDecember. The minimum temperature has remained between 8°-9°C for the last 4 days. The base observatory Safdarjung registered the lowest of 8.2°C, today morning, about 1°C above the normal.
In view of the proximity of cyclonic circulation and the likely associated weather activity, the wind pattern will change. The cold winds across the northern plains will get arrested. Persistent clouding will slow the cooling process in the night. The mercury levels may rise to double digits, swinging between 10°-12°C between 27th and 29th December and a drop, thereafter to bring back the sting for the New Year celebrations.
Image Courtesy: PTI