Delhi Shivers Through Fourth Straight Day of Cold Wave
New Delhi endured another frigid morning on Wednesday. The city officially recorded cold wave conditions for the fourth day in a row. The mercury plunged to a low of 3.8 degrees Celsius at the Safdarjung base station.
Temperature Dips Below Normal
This reading was 3.6 degrees below the normal minimum temperature expected for this time of year. However, it was slightly warmer than Tuesday's bone-chilling low of 3 degrees Celsius. That temperature marked Delhi's coldest morning since January of last year.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Thursday. The forecast predicts cold wave conditions will persist at isolated places across the capital.
Relief on the Horizon with Western Disturbance
Residents can expect some respite starting Friday. A feeble western disturbance is approaching the region. This weather system is expected to abate the cold wave conditions and raise night-time temperatures once again.
IMD officials provided specific forecasts:
- Thursday's minimum temperature is likely to range between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius.
- By Friday, the minimum may rise to a slightly more bearable 6 to 8 degrees.
- Sunday should see temperatures climb further, settling between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius.
Cold Wave Conditions Across the City
Data from various monitoring stations confirmed the widespread chill. The lowest minimum of 3.6 degrees was recorded at Lodhi Road. Other areas reported similarly low readings:
- Ayanagar: 4 degrees Celsius
- Palam: 4.4 degrees Celsius
- Ridge: 4.6 degrees Celsius
An IMD official stated, "Multiple stations logged cold wave conditions on Wednesday." The department classifies a cold wave when the minimum temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius and is at least 4.5 degrees below normal. It can also be declared if the actual minimum temperature dips to 4 degrees or lower at a station.
Upcoming Weather Systems
The approaching western disturbance is expected to start affecting the Himalayan region from January 15. Fresh snowfall is likely on January 16. This system will also shift wind patterns to an easterly direction. These winds bring moisture but are generally less cold than the prevailing northwesterly winds.
Looking further ahead, Mahesh Palawat, Vice-President at Skymet Weather, indicated another system is on the way. "A second, more active western disturbance is, meanwhile, expected to bring possible rain across the plains on Jan 22 or 23," he said.
Daytime Conditions and Air Quality
Wednesday's daytime offered a brief reprieve from the intense cold. The maximum temperature reached 20 degrees Celsius, which is around normal for the season. This was slightly cooler than Tuesday's high of 21.6 degrees.
The morning began with moderate fog. Visibility at Safdarjung dropped to 200 metres around 8 am. However, sunshine broke through across most parts of the city by 9 am, providing some warmth.
Air quality remained a concern. Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 353, placing it in the higher end of the 'very poor' category. This was a marginal improvement from Tuesday's reading of 360. Forecasts suggest the AQI is likely to stay in the 'very poor' range at least until January 23.
