Cold Wave Grips Delhi as Temperatures Plunge Below Normal
The national capital woke up to a significant temperature drop on Sunday as chilly winds marked the beginning of cold wave conditions across Delhi. The mercury dipped to 11 degrees Celsius, which is approximately 3.3 degrees below the seasonal normal, according to weather officials.
IMD Predicts Further Temperature Decline
The India Meteorological Department has confirmed that the cold spell will intensify in the coming days. In their latest weather bulletin, IMD reported that night temperatures across several parts of Delhi are currently 2°C to 4°C below normal. Weather forecasts indicate that the minimum temperature is likely to range between 9°C and 11°C on Monday, while maximum temperatures will hover around 27°C to 29°C until Tuesday before declining further.
Meteorologists attribute this sudden chill to specific atmospheric conditions. Clear skies and cold north-westerly winds blowing from the Himalayas are creating ideal conditions for rapid heat escape after sunset, resulting in significantly colder nights.
Extended Cold Spell Expected
Weather experts predict that the capital will continue to experience these cold conditions for several more days. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President at Skymet Weather, explained to Hindustan Times: "The chill is due to the effect of north-westerly winds coming from the mountains. The impact is expected to continue in the Capital for at least the next four to five days."
The cold wave isn't limited to Delhi alone. The IMD has issued warnings about significant temperature drops across northwest and central India. Specific regions including East Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh are expected to experience cold wave conditions between 8th and 10th November.
Current temperature patterns show:
- 4-7°C below normal in East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, south Punjab, and south Haryana
- 2-4°C below normal in plains of northwest India, East Madhya Pradesh and north Madhya Maharashtra
The weather agency has indicated that these below-normal temperatures are likely to persist over northwest and adjoining central India for the next six to seven days. Additional regions including Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh are expected to see temperature drops of about 2°C over the next two days, while East India will likely experience a 2-4°C decline over the next four days before stabilization.
