The national capital experienced its coldest day this winter on Tuesday, with the maximum temperature plummeting to a two-year low of 13.4°C, marking a departure of six degrees below the normal range, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Simultaneously, dense fog conditions are predicted to persist in various parts of North India until January 14.
According to the IMD, the minimum temperature on Wednesday morning recorded in Delhi was 7.1°C, underscoring the severity of the cold wave gripping the region.
A “yellow alert” has been issued for Delhi on Wednesday, anticipating a maximum temperature of around 16°C. The influence of a western disturbance contributed to drizzle in isolated areas of the city. Despite these conditions, Delhi’s air quality continued to remain “very poor,” registering a reading of 343.
Neighbouring Uttar Pradesh experienced even colder temperatures, with Kanpur and Agra recording minimum temperatures of 1.1°C and 1.0°C, respectively.
The bone-chilling weather prompted night shelters in Delhi, designed to provide refuge for the homeless, to reach full capacity. Equipped with blankets, beds, hot water, and food, these shelters aimed to offer solace to those seeking protection from the cold.
Amidst the harsh conditions, a caretaker from a night shelter in Delhi’s Anand Vihar reported that a rescue team had been deployed to bring individuals living on the streets to these shelters.
Dense Fog Forecast for North India:
The latest bulletin from the IMD warns of dense fog conditions likely to prevail for several hours in the morning across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh from January 10 to 14. Additionally, Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, north Rajasthan, north Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and other parts of East and Northeast India are expected to experience dense fog on Wednesday.
Cold wave conditions are predicted to persist in parts of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, with ground frost conditions forecasted in Uttarakhand from January 10 to 12. The Met Office foresees no significant temperature changes in the next 48 hours.
Rains Expected in Tamil Nadu:
A cyclonic circulation in Southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea, along with a trough extending to south Gujarat, is expected to bring light to moderate rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, coastal Karnataka, and the Lakshadweep islands over the next three days, according to the IMD.