Parts of national capital are reeling under severe cold day condition for the last 4-5 days, in a row. Minimum temperatures are also hovering around 5-7°C, accentuating biting cold even during night. Day maximum temperature is 5-7°C below the average, qualifying for cold to severe cold day conditions in most areas. These are likely to persist and also joined by fairly widespread showers over the weekend.
Airport observatory at Palam recorded 5th successive cold day yesterday by registering 2nd lowest day temperature of 13.8°C during this month. Earlier, lowest day temperature of this month so far was measured on 15thJan (12.5°C). This also happens to be the coldest of January in the last at least 4 years.
Lowest mercury levels of January in 2019, 2020 and 2021 were placed at 17.4°C, 13.2°C and 14.2°C respectively. Today morning, Jafarpur in Delhi area was the lowest with 12.8°C(-7°C) and closely followed by Narela at 13.1°C(-7°C). Palam observatory registered day maximum at 6°C below the normal and Safdarjung was little better with 4°C less than the average.
At base station Safdarjung, the average weekly day temperature between 12th Jan and 18th Jan works out to be 16.2°C. This mercury level is about 5°C below the normal of 21°C, at this time of the month. However, average weekly minimum temperature was nearly normal at 7.2°C. It means that national capital is observing cooler than normal days and nights remaining within the threshold limits.
Despite slight improvement in weather in terms of early clearance of foggy obscured conditions, the mercury level is not rising. Even, fair amount of sunshine is not able to lift the barrier of fierce cold and the stinging nippy conditions continue to prevail. Actually, Delhi is flanked by cold pockets on either side, east and west.
On the eastern side, parts of entire Uttar Pradesh are reeling under severe cold day conditions. And, on the western side, pockets of Punjab and Haryana are also lurching with freezing cold for the last many days. Irrespective of the wind pattern, easterly or westerly, the freeze is getting advected over and around the national capital.
An active western disturbance is arriving shortly across the northern mountains. Also, an induced circulation will form over North Rajasthan and Haryana. The influence of these 2 systems will bring clouds and rain over most parts of Delhi, around the weekend. Rain and thundershowers with possible hailstorm at isolated places is likely between 21st and 23rd Jan. Peak intensity will be observed on 22ndJan and the residual effect on the 23rdJan. Delhi has so far recorded about 50mm of rainfall in January. This wet spell may facilitate to raise the monthly total, over and above the highest of 57mm recorded in Jan 2021 and 55mm in Jan 2019. Cold wave conditions may relent briefly over northern parts, including Delhi and resume after 24thJan. Foggy days, obscured sunshine with cold day conditions will make a comeback in the last week of January.