It said that for the first time in 14 years, the minimum temperatures in early December have been recorded below 5 degrees Celsius.
New Delhi: On Wednesday, Cold weather conditions arrived in the national capital with chilly winds. Delhi recorded a low of 4.9 degrees Celsius, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
It said the minimum temperatures in early December had been recorded below 5 degrees Celsius for the first time in 14 years.
The lowest minimum temperature during this period was recorded on December 6, 1987, at 4.1 degrees Celsius, according to data. The IMD has issued a yellow alert, warning of similar cold wave conditions for the next two days.
The night-time temperature was recorded at 4.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 4.7 notches below the normal. On Tuesday, it was 8 degrees Celsius.
According to data, there were no cold wave days during December 2023 and 2022. However, in November 2020, the minimum temperature dropped to 7.5 degrees Celsius, which was cold wave conditions.
When the minimum temperature departs from the normal day temperature by 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius, this is known as a cold wave. A negative departure of more than 6.4 degrees Celsius is termed a “severe cold wave.”
According to the IMD, the sharp temperature drop is caused by surface winds blowing from the northwest at 8-10 kmph.
The absence of major western disturbances and strong surface winds during the daytime (10-20 kmph) is likely to keep minimum temperatures in the 4-6 degrees Celsius range for the next three to four days. Cold wave conditions will likely prevail in Delhi from December 11 to 13.
On Wednesday, the city recorded a high of 23 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees below normal, and humidity ranged from 64 to 39 per cent.
