Windy, Chilly Days Ahead For Delhi, Cold Wave Expected

Delhi is shivering through extreme wintry condition since beginning of January.  Though cold wave conditions remained conspicuously missing, but cold day conditions followed a long trail. It was rather severe cold day conditions in some parts of the national capital, with mercury levels staying 5-8°C below the normal.

The climax was on the eve of Republic Day, when the maximum temperature dropped to 12.1°C, the lowest of this season so far. This day temperature was  huge 10°C below the normal. This also happened to be the coldest  January day, since last 9 years, when mercury had dropped to register 9.8°C on 03^rdJan 2013.

Harsh winter so far was on account of biting cold conditions during the day, with temperatures plunging below the normal by more than 5°C on most occasions. Though, the minimum temperatures remained below 10°C, but never breached the  threshold of 4°C. Henceforth, in the remaining days of January and even first few days of February, better weather conditions are expected during the day. The maximum temperature may even lift up to 19-20°C.

It is likely to be windy, raising the chill factor substantially. The icy winds down the slopes of mountains will penetrate deep making excursion right up to the national capital and even beyond. The minimum temperatures may not drop drastically, but still manage to reach 4-5°C. The moderate breeze will accentuate the ‘feel like’ factor and nippy conditions are expected for the next about one week or so.

There is no active western disturbance likely during this period, to alter the meteorological conditions in the plains. Weak pair of such a system is expected to run through the higher reaches of Jammu&Kashmir  between 30-31^stJan and again on 01-02^ndFebruary. Weather activity will remain confined to the highly elevated mountains, above 15,000’.  The trailing system will have better spread and energy and may cast partly cloudy sky over Delhi and surrounding areas on 02^nd and 03^rdFeb. Persistence of strong winds is expected to desist any thick fog formation, for longer durations.  Water bodies, green areas and the aerosol intense airport areas may still find dense fog in patches, albeit clearing rapidly after the sunrise.