The national capital woke up to another bone-chilling morning on Tuesday as a severe cold wave tightened its grip over the city. Minimum temperatures dipped sharply, falling below the 4-degree Celsius mark at several isolated weather stations across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Mercury Takes a Nosedive Across the Region
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the intense cold was not uniform but particularly biting in the suburbs and outlying areas. The weather station at Lodhi Road recorded a minimum temperature of 4.1 degrees Celsius. However, it was significantly colder in other parts. The Ridge area and Aya Nagar both recorded a frigid low of 3.5 degrees Celsius, highlighting the localized intensity of the cold wave.
The primary weather observatory for Delhi, Safdarjung, registered a minimum temperature of 5.3 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the Palam observatory near the airport noted 6.2 degrees Celsius. The IMD has attributed this sharp drop in nighttime and early morning temperatures to clear skies and calm winds, which are ideal conditions for maximum heat radiation loss from the earth's surface.
Dense Fog and Disrupted Visibility
The cold wave was accompanied by dense fog, which severely reduced visibility and disrupted daily life. Early morning commuters faced significant challenges as the fog blanket enveloped the city. The IMD reported visibility levels as low as 50 meters at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport between 5:30 AM and 8:30 AM, leading to delays and cancellations of several flight and train schedules.
Road traffic also crawled as drivers navigated through near-zero visibility conditions. The weather department has issued a forecast indicating that similar conditions of dense to very dense fog and cold day scenarios are likely to persist over Delhi and adjoining regions for the next few days.
Respite Not in Sight, IMD Predicts Continued Chill
The meteorological department has stated that no significant change in minimum temperatures is expected over Northwest India, including Delhi, for the next 24 hours. The cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are likely to continue in isolated pockets. Furthermore, dense to very dense fog is predicted during the morning hours for the subsequent 2-3 days, which will keep visibility poor and the perceived cold even more intense.
Authorities have advised citizens, especially the elderly, children, and those with health conditions, to take necessary precautions against the cold. The municipal corporations have also activated night shelters to provide refuge to the homeless population from the life-threatening chill. As Delhiites brace for more such mornings, the focus remains on staying warm and safe until the weather patterns shift.
