The minimum temperature dropped to 4.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees below the season’s average, in Delhi on Wednesday as intense cold winds from the northwest lashed the national capital. Delhi woke up to a partially cloudy sky as the maximum temperature also dropped to 19.5 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season’s average.
The overall air quality continued to remain ‘poor’, even as some areas like Mundka, Jahangirpuri, Ashok Vihar, Burari, ITO, NSIT Dwarka, RK Puram, Rohini recorded ‘very poor’ category air with PM2.5 as the major pollutant.
There was shallow to moderate fog in the morning, and the temperature is likely to remain cold as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said there won’t be much sunlight through the day.
“Winds from the northwest is making Delhi colder than usual at this time of the season. It will continue to be this cold for another two-three days. After that, it will slowly start getting warmer,” an official told IANS.
There was however relief from the intense cold conditions for residents in Kashmir as night temperatures rose by several degrees, even as the Valley experienced fresh snowfall on Wednesday, Met department said. On the other hand, icy winds were blowing in Himachal Pradesh where the higher reaches recorded sub-zero temperatures. There are chances of mild rain and snow at a few places, according to weather officials.
Meanwhile, at least 11 Delhi-bound trains were delayed due to fog. Trains headed to Delhi from from Puri in Odisha and Gaya in Bihar were delayed by five hours.
The IMD forecasts cold wave conditions at some places in Delhi on Thursday too, with the minimum temperature hovering around four degrees Celsius.