Delhi shivers as temperature drops to 4 degrees Celsius, cold wave to persist

Delhi woke up to a freezing Monday morning as temperatures dipped to 4 degrees Celsius, with dense fog engulfing several parts of the national capital. Visuals from across the city showed poor visibility due to the foggy conditions.

As of 8:30 am, the temperature stood at 5.4 degrees Celsius.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave conditions are expected to prevail over Delhi on January 12 and 13, with isolated pockets likely to experience cold wave conditions on 14th Jan, followed by a gradual reduction thereafter.

As per the Environmental Weather Service (EWS), the past 24 hours witnessed a partly cloudy sky with mist and haze during the night. Predominant surface winds blew from the west direction with speeds reaching up to 15 kilometre per hour.

Delhi’s air quality remained in the poor category on Monday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 294. The air quality is likely to deteriorate to the very poor category from Januray 12 to 14.

Jan 12: The IMD has forecast a mainly clear sky with cold wave conditions at a few places. Shallow to moderate fog is likely during the morning hours.

The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to range between 18 to 20 degrees Celsius and 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Minimum temperatures will remain appreciably below normal by 3.1 to 5.0 degrees Celsius at many places and below normal by 1.6 to 3.0 degrees Celsius at isolated locations. Maximum temperatures are also expected to stay below normal by 1.6 to 3.0 degrees Celsius.

Surface winds will predominantly blow from the west at speeds of less than 10 kilometres per hour during morning hours, shifting to the northwest with speeds up to 10 kilometres per hour in the afternoon. Winds will gradually weaken in the evening and night, dropping to below 5 kilometres per hour.

Jan 13: Minimum temperatures are likely to remain below normal by 1.6 to 3.0 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures will be near normal.

Surface winds will blow from the west with calm conditions reaching up to 5 kilometres per hour during the morning. Wind speeds are expected to increase to 15 kilometres per hour from the northwest in the afternoon before decreasing to below 8 kilometres per hour from the west during the evening and night.

Jan 14: Delhi is likely to witness a partly cloudy sky with shallow to moderate fog during the morning hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to range between 19 to 21 degrees Celsius and 3 to 5 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Minimum temperatures will remain below normal by 1.6 to 3.0 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures are expected to be near normal over the national capital.

Predominant surface winds will blow from the west direction at speeds of up to 10 kilometres per hour during the morning hours. Wind speeds are likely to increase in the afternoon, reaching less than 16 kilometres per hour from the northwest, before gradually decreasing to below 8 kilometres per hour from the northwest during the evening and night.

The weather department has warned against harmful effects of poor AQI.

Dense fog can have significant health impacts due to the pollutants and particulate matter it carries. When inhaled, these particles can lodge in the lungs, reducing their functional capacity and increasing episodes of wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Prolonged exposure is particularly risky for people with asthma, bronchitis, or other respiratory conditions, as it can aggravate their symptoms and trigger respiratory problems.

In addition, pollutants present in the fog may irritate the eyes, causing redness, swelling, or infections. It is therefore advisable to limit outdoor activities, wear masks, and take precautions to protect the eyes and respiratory system during periods of dense fog.