Delhi shivers under intense cold wave; respite from tomorrow

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 2.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday as the national capital continues to shiver under intense cold wave for the eight straight day, the most in the month of January in at least a decade.

As per data by the city’s primary weather station, the Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi hit a minimum of 2.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday and 1.4 degrees on Monday.

As per data available on the India Meteorological Department (IMD) website, Delhi endured seven days of cold wave in January 2020, while no such day was recorded last year. However, this year the city has recorded eight days of cold wave so far.

According to IMD data, Delhi recorded biting cold wave from January 5 to 9, the second longest in the month in at least 12 years.

It has also logged over 50 hours of dense fog this month so far, the most since 2019.

However, the cold wave will abate from Thursday-Friday under the influence of two western disturbances that are likely to affect the region in quick succession, according to Met.

A light drizzle is also expected on Thursday night while light to moderate rain and a hailstorm accompanied by raging winds up to 50 kilometres per hour are predicted to lash northwest India, including Delhi, on January 23-24 under the influence of another western disturbance.

Delhi has not recorded any rainfall so far during this winter which the Met department has attributed to the lack of strong western disturbances in November and December.

The city had recorded 82.2 mm rainfall in January last year, the highest in the month since 1901.