Delhi Experiences Coldest February Day in Four Years Amid Dense Fog Conditions
The national capital, Delhi, shivered through its coldest February day in four years on Monday, as a combination of light rainfall and calm overnight winds triggered dense fog across the region. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature plummeted to 17.5 degrees Celsius, which is five notches below the normal range for this time of year.
Temperature Anomalies and Fog Formation
While the daytime highs dipped significantly, the minimum temperature recorded was 10.4 degrees Celsius, marking two notches above normal. This unusual weather pattern was primarily driven by stable atmospheric conditions following overnight rain. Senior meteorologists explained that high moisture levels, coupled with very weak winds, allowed cool air to become trapped near the ground, resulting in the formation of dense fog.
R K Jenamani, senior scientist and head of weather forecast services at IMD, elaborated, "After the overnight rain, there were only very light winds which didn't allow the moisture to disperse. This is why, earlier when rainfall was heavier on January 23 and 27, no such fog was seen because stronger winds had prevented it."
Visibility Challenges and Air Quality Impact
The dense fog severely impacted visibility across key areas of Delhi, reducing it to just 100 meters for several hours at Safdarjung and Palam. Despite the challenging conditions, this weather event had a silver lining for the city's air quality. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) showed improvement, dropping to 210 from 265 recorded a day earlier. However, it remained in the 'Poor' category, indicating continued concerns about pollution levels.
Neighboring regions experienced similar trends:
- Gurugram saw its AQI improve to 'Moderate' at 191 on Monday, down from 206 a day earlier
- Noida recorded an AQI of 238, showing a slight dip from 252
Weather Forecast and Upcoming Patterns
The IMD has provided insights into the upcoming weather patterns for the region. A fresh feeble Western disturbance is likely to affect the higher reaches of the Himalayan region from Monday night, followed by another Western disturbance expected to impact Northwest India from the night of February 5.
For the remainder of the week, Delhi can expect:
- Shallow to moderate fog conditions
- Partly cloudy skies
- Gradual temperature rise during the weekend
According to forecasts, February is expected to remain warmer and relatively dry overall. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology predicts that air quality will continue to hover in the 'Poor' range in the coming days, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and precautionary measures.
Residents can look forward to some relief as temperatures are forecast to rise by this weekend, potentially breaking the current cold spell that has gripped the capital region.
