Delhi Weather Turns Severe as Cold Wave Drags Minimum to 3.2°C, Lowest in Three Years

Delhi weather conditions remained harsh on Monday as the capital witnessed a sharp cold wave, with the minimum temperature plunging to 3.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest in the last three years. The India Meteorological Department IMD issued an orange alert for dense fog and cold wave conditions on Tuesday, cautioning commuters across Delhi and the NCR to brace for difficult weather.

Officials said this was the first officially recorded cold wave of the season at Safdarjung, Delhi's main weather observatory, though isolated areas had reported similar conditions earlier. A yellow alert has been issued for Wednesday, signalling continued cold and foggy weather across the city and surrounding regions.

Delhi weather temperature trend and station-wise readings

Safdarjung recorded a minimum of 3.2 degrees Celsius, nearly four degrees below normal for this time of year. The station last reported a lower reading on January 18, 2023, when the minimum fell to 2.6 degrees Celsius.

Other parts of the city also experienced severe cold weather. Lodhi Road recorded 3 degrees Celsius, Ayanagar 3.2 degrees Celsius and Palam 3.3 degrees Celsius, indicating widespread impact across Delhi.

Daytime weather offered limited comfort, as bright sunshine helped the maximum temperature reach 20.6 degrees Celsius, about one degree above normal. Despite this, the sharp night-time drop kept overall weather conditions chilly. IMD said clear skies during the night allowed rapid heat loss, pulling down minimum temperatures.

Cold wave definition, weather causes and forecast

"Cold wave conditions were realised at several Delhi weather stations on Monday and are likely to continue for another two days," said Krishna Mishra, scientist at IMD. A cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius and is 4.5 degrees or more below normal, or when it falls below 4 degrees Celsius.

Meteorologists linked the cold spell to persistent cold westerly winds flowing from the western Himalayan region. With no cloud cover, the cold air moved unhindered across the plains, worsening Delhi weather conditions. However, under the influence of a weak western disturbance, wind direction may shift to easterly by Thursday, bringing a gradual rise in temperatures.

According to the IMD weather forecast, similar minimum temperatures are expected until Wednesday. From Thursday, the minimum may rise to around 3 to 5 degrees Celsius. Further improvement in Delhi weather is likely over the weekend, with night temperatures projected between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius.

Delhi weather records and air quality status

Delhi weather has seen harsher January mornings in recent years. Safdarjung recorded a minimum of 1.1 degrees Celsius on January 1, 2021, the lowest of the last decade. Historical records show the station's all-time January low remains minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, logged on January 16, 1935.

While residents battled freezing weather and dense fog, Delhi's air quality remained at the higher end of the poor category. The overall air quality index stood at 297 on Monday, up slightly from 291 on Sunday. The combination of pollution, fog and cold weather continued to cause discomfort across the region.