New Delhi: Delhi recorded the coldest morning of the season on Saturday as the minimum temperature dipped to 7.1 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, at Safdarjung, which is the city’s base station.
As a western disturbance is expected to impact the region, the minimum temperature may rise to 8 degrees Celsius on Sunday. However, it is likely to dip to 6 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday. There is a possibility of very light rain or drizzle on Sunday evening or night.
According to India Meteorological Department, Ayanagar reported the lowest minimum temperature on Saturday at 6.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Pusa at 6.8 degrees Celsius.
The city has been witnessing a dip in minimum temperature for the past three days. It was 12 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and 8.5 degrees Celsius on both Thursday and Friday. North-westerly winds and clear skies have caused the minimum temperature to dip.
“When there are clear skies, days are warm and nights become cool due to radiational cooling. A clear sky causes heat to quickly dissipate and makes nights cooler than normal. Besides, north-westerly winds bring cooler winds from the western Himalayan region to Delhi,” said a Met official.
IMD predicted that there are chances of very light rainfall or drizzle on Sunday evening or night. The last time the city logged rainfall was on Sept 19 at 10.2 mm as part of monsoon activity. “A western disturbance is expected to influence the region on Sunday, which may cause a slight rise in minimum temperature. It may cause scattered rainfall, but no significant rain activity is expected in Delhi,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-chairman, Skymet Meteorology. He added that after the western disturbance’s influence is over in the city, the minimum temperature is expected to dip further.
The maximum temperature on Saturday was recorded at 25.4 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal.
The lowest minimum temperature in Dec last year was 6.2 degrees Celsius. In Dec 2022, the minimum touched 5 degrees Celsius.
Delhi recorded a warm Oct and Nov, with temperatures mostly staying above normal. This Oct was the warmest in 73 years, while Nov was the warmest in eight years.
