NI Bureau
Delhi has experienced its coldest day in two years, with the maximum temperature in the Delhi-NCR region dropping 7-8 degrees Celsius below the seasonal norm amid an intense cold wave. Dense fog, coupled with the cold weather, continues to envelop the national capital region. The last time Delhi witnessed such cold conditions was on January 25, 2022, with a maximum temperature of 12.1 degrees Celsius.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a cold wave to persist in Delhi-NCR and other parts of North India, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, for the next three days. Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 12.5 degrees Celsius, seven degrees below normal.
The IMD forecasts the cold wave to continue in Delhi-NCR, issuing an orange alert for ‘cold to severe cold day’ on Friday and a yellow alert for Saturday. Weather officials attribute the extreme cold to a persistent layer of uplifted fog that, while not affecting visibility on the ground, blocks out the sun, depriving the region of natural heating.
Palam recorded a maximum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius, while Jafarpur reported the coldest conditions in the city, with the mercury not rising beyond 10.5 degrees Celsius. Cold wave alerts have been issued for parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, with minimum temperatures expected to be 2-4 degrees Celsius below normal in most parts of East and adjoining Central India.
Additionally, the weather office predicts isolated heavy rainfall in south Tamil Nadu, south Kerala, and Lakshadweep over the next 4-5 days, with Coastal Karnataka experiencing similar conditions on Friday. Maximum temperatures in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and adjoining northern Madhya Pradesh were recorded between 12-18 degrees Celsius, significantly below the seasonal norm. The IMD warns of continued disruptions in train services and flight operations at Delhi’s IGI airport due to low visibility in foggy conditions.
