Residents of the national capital braced themselves against a severe chill on Thursday as Delhi recorded its coldest morning of the season so far. The mercury plunged to a low of 5.6 degrees Celsius, marking a significant dip and setting a new record for the month.
Record-Breaking Chill Grips the Capital
The minimum temperature of 5.6 degrees Celsius was not just the season's lowest but also represented a departure of four notches below the normal range for this time of year. This reading stands as the coldest minimum temperature recorded in the first week of December in at least 15 years, based on data available since 2011. Interestingly, the city had only recently set a record on December 1st with 5.7 degrees Celsius, which was swiftly broken this Thursday.
Despite the intense cold, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) did not officially declare a cold wave for the day. According to IMD's classification, a cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature dips below 10 degrees Celsius and is also at least 4.5 degrees Celsius below the normal for at least two consecutive days across two weather stations.
Air Quality and Wind Patterns
On the pollution front, there was a marginal improvement in air quality, though it remained within the 'Very Poor' category. Strong northwesterly winds, reaching speeds of up to 10-15 km per hour during the day, helped disperse pollutants to some extent. The average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 4 PM was 304, showing an improvement from Wednesday's 342.
However, the relief is expected to be short-lived. The Air Quality Early Warning System from IITM predicts that the AQI will continue to linger in the 'Very Poor' range for the next several days. An analysis by the Decision Support System highlighted that on Thursday, the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's pollution was minimal at just 0.2%. In contrast, transport sources contributed 13%, and pollution from neighbouring areas like Jhajjar in Haryana accounted for about 11%.
Weather Forecast and Upcoming Days
The weather department has issued a forecast indicating a potential cold wave in isolated parts of Delhi on Friday, driven by chilly northwesterly winds. Over the next 24 hours, the minimum temperature is likely to fall further by another 1 to 2 degrees Celsius. However, a rise of 3 to 4 degrees is anticipated over the subsequent three days.
No major change is expected in the maximum temperatures for the next two days. Additionally, the IMD has forecast shallow fog during the morning hours from December 5th to 10th, which could impact visibility for early commuters. Residents are advised to take necessary precautions against the cold and deteriorating air quality as the winter season intensifies.
