Delhi Weather Today: Temperature Rises As Clear Sky To End Five-Day Chill

People of Delhi got slight relief from bone-chilling cold conditions on Thursday as the minimum temperature was recorded at 5 degrees Celsius and the maximum settled at 18 degrees Celsius, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

According to weather officials, a similar temperature is likely to persist till the weekend, with moderate to dense fog in the morning hours. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for the capital city for the next two days.

For the past five days, Delhi has been in the grip of a severe cold wave. However, there was a notable shift on Wednesday as the temperature climbed to 5.7 degrees Celsius, breaking free from the prolonged spell of chill. This marks the highest temperature recorded in Delhi since January 11.

Day-time temperature also rises, with maximum temperature at 18.2 degrees Celsius - two degrees below normal. It was 17.4 degrees Celsius a day earlier.

The IMD defines a 'cold wave' as when the minimum temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius or more below normal. It can also be classified as a cold wave in the plains when the minimum reading is 4 degrees Celsius or lower for two consecutive days.

In the recent week, Delhi experienced a gradual drop in minimum temperatures. On Tuesday, the mercury dipped to 3.5 degrees Celsius, followed by 3.3 degrees Celsius on Monday, 3.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 3.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday, and 3.9 degrees Celsius on Friday.

A consistent breeze through the day kept the fog at bay on Wednesday, with the visibility not dropping to zero for the first time in three days.

The lowest visibility on Wednesday was 200m at 5:30 am, impacting fewer flights and trains. Approximately 50 flights departing from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport were delayed and 10 were cancelled throughout the day. No flights were diverted in the morning, as per the report published by Hindustan Times.

Over 800 flights have been diverted at the Delhi airport in the last three days, with over 40 cancelled and 15 diverted.

On the other hand, passengers face difficulty at New Delhi Railway Station as more than 20 trains are running late due to dense fog conditions in various parts of north India, according to a report by news agency ANI.

"The slight rise in minimum temperature was due to a change in wind direction, from northwesterly to easterly. While northwesterly winds are colder, easterly winds are much warmer. We also saw an increase in wind speed, to over 10 km/hr at night time, which reduced the fog intensity," said Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at IMD.