No one could have asked for better weather conditions in Delhi for the Republic Day festivities. It was very much on the predicted lines. Good visibility, light breeze, bright sunshine, pleasant cosy conditions with the temperature rising to double digits and beyond, even before the formal ceremony began. The minimum temperature recorded at the Safdarjung observatory was 7.2°C and the horizontal visibility in excess of 4,000 meters at Palam. Sky condition was sea blue with no obscurity and clouds at all. It was the warmest Republic Day in the last eight years. At 23.7°C, the maximum temperature was about 2°C above the normal and also, above normal for the ninth straight day. The maximum temperature was higher on 26th January 2017 when it touched 26.1°C. Overall weather conditions were adjudged the best in the last one decade. More so, last year, the weather played a spoilsport and a dampener for the outdoor festivities. The ‘Fly Past’ by the Indian Air Force was majestic this time.
The minimum temperature is recorded under 10°C for the fourth straight day and the lowest has been 7.2°C for the last two days. These temperatures are likely to rise very shortly and go beyond the normal. As such, there is already a feel of the early receding of winters, this rise of mercury will strengthen the feel-like conditions, further. However, the winter may not vanish so abruptly and a cold spell may come, yet again, in the first week of February 2025.
A fresh western disturbance is likely to arrive over the northern mountains on 29th January 2025. Weather activity will remain confined to the hills only. However, the wind pattern will change and the moist easterly winds over and around Delhi will result rise in the temperature. No rainfall is likely with this system but shallow fog will make a comeback. This will be followed by another western disturbance on 01st Feb and yet another system on 03rd Feb 2025. The trail of weather systems will keep the hope alive for the continuation of wintry conditions. Though it is quite early to comment on the impact of these systems, but the last one in this series may be the most active one. Minimum temperatures are expected to remain above 10°C between 29th Jan and 06th Feb 2025. The next spell of rain for Delhi, at the earliest, will not be before 03rd Feb.