The Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) is in the grip of a severe cold wave, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a stern warning for the coming days. Minimum temperatures have taken a sharp dive, plunging life across the capital into a deep chill.
Mercury Plummets, Cold Wave Criteria Met
According to the IMD's daily weather bulletin released on the evening of 1 December, the minimum temperatures in the region have fallen by approximately 2°C in the past 24 hours. This drastic drop has brought the overall temperature range down to a biting 6-8°C.
The weather office noted that readings in Delhi were appreciably below normal at several locations and markedly below normal at a few others. This satisfies the official criteria for a cold wave, which is declared when the minimum temperature departure from normal is between -4.5°C to -6.4°C and the base temperature is 10°C or less.
For instance, Delhi's primary weather station at Safdarjung recorded a low of just 5.7°C on Monday, marking a significant departure of -4.6°C from the seasonal average. The chill was even more pronounced at the Ayanagar and Ridge monitoring stations, each reporting a departure of -5.5°C.
IMD Forecast: Colder Nights and Fog Ahead
The IMD's forecast spells more discomfort for residents. While temperatures might see a marginal rise of about 1°C in the next 24 hours, they are expected to fall sharply by 2-3°C over the subsequent three days.
The bulletin states that cold wave conditions are likely to persist over isolated places for the next five days. Friday, 7 December, is projected to be the coldest, with the mercury likely to dip to a minimum range of 5-7°C.
Compounding the wintry misery, the IMD has also warned of shallow fog during morning hours from Tuesday onwards. This could intensify the perceived chill and lead to visibility issues, potentially disrupting road and air traffic.
A Silver Lining: Air Quality Shows Marginal Improvement
Amid the cold wave, there is a sliver of good news on the air pollution front. The IMD report did not predict any rainfall for the forecast period, expecting mainly clear or partly cloudy skies with mist, haze, and fog.
However, strong northwesterly winds have provided some relief. On Sunday, Delhi broke its 24-day streak of 'very poor' Air Quality Index (AQI). On Monday morning, the capital's overall AQI was recorded at 300, in the 'poor' category, though it was slightly worse than Sunday's reading of 279.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies AQI from 0-50 as 'good', 51-100 as 'satisfactory', 101-200 as 'moderate', 201-300 as 'poor', 301-400 as 'very poor', and 401-500 as 'severe'.
As the cold wave tightens its grip, authorities advise citizens, especially the elderly and vulnerable, to take necessary precautions against the harsh weather conditions.
