Delhi continued to endure harsh winter conditions for the second consecutive day on Thursday, with temperatures staying significantly below seasonal averages. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that “cold day” conditions persisted across the national capital, with both daytime and nighttime temperatures reflecting the ongoing chill.
According to the IMD, temperatures in Delhi were recorded between 1.5°C and 3°C below normal, prompting the weather agency to extend its yellow alert for cold to severe cold conditions. The alert, initially issued on Wednesday, remains in effect as similar weather is expected to continue through Thursday, January 8. Officials further noted that the cold wave over Delhi is likely to persist until January 10.
Despite the biting cold, weather conditions remained largely dry. The IMD forecast shallow fog in isolated parts of the city during the morning hours, while skies were expected to remain mostly clear throughout the day. Visibility levels, however, were reduced in some areas due to fog. At Safdarjung observatory, visibility was reported at around 800 metres, while Palam recorded a lower visibility of approximately 600 metres.
Temperature readings for the day were projected to remain within a narrow range. The maximum temperature in Delhi was expected to hover between 15°C and 17°C, while the minimum temperature was forecast between 7°C and 9°C. Meteorologists noted an interesting contrast: while minimum temperatures were slightly above normal by 0.1°C to 2.1°C, the maximum temperatures were noticeably lower than average, dipping by 1.5°C to 3°C below normal levels.
The IMD stated that there would be no significant change in minimum temperatures over the next two days. However, a brief rise of about 1–2°C is expected on January 10, followed by a similar drop thereafter. As a result, minimum temperatures are likely to remain within normal limits for most days, except on January 10, when they may turn marginally above normal.
Maximum temperatures, on the other hand, are expected to stay below normal for most of the coming days. An exception is forecast on January 11, when the maximum temperature may fall sharply, becoming appreciably below normal by as much as 3.1°C to 5°C.
Wind patterns are also playing a role in sustaining the cold conditions. The IMD’s latest bulletin indicated that surface winds from the west, blowing at speeds of up to 10 kmph, were prevalent during the morning hours. By afternoon, wind direction is expected to shift to the northwest, with speeds increasing to around 16 kmph.
Weather experts believe these northwesterly winds, combined with foggy conditions, are preventing daytime temperatures from rising significantly. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President at private weather agency Skymet, was quoted as saying that consistent northwesterly winds and fog are restricting the warming effect of sunlight. While some areas experienced brief sunshine, it was insufficient to offset the cold, he explained.
Air Quality Shows Slight Improvement
Alongside the cold weather, Delhi’s air quality showed marginal improvement. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 277 at 8 am on Thursday, placing it at the higher end of the ‘poor’ category.
The 24-hour average AQI on Wednesday was recorded at 289, reflecting a slight improvement compared to Tuesday’s average AQI of 310, which fell under the ‘very poor’ category. As per CPCB standards, an AQI between 201 and 300 is classified as ‘poor’, 301 to 400 as ‘very poor’, and values above 400 are considered ‘severe’.
While the slight dip in pollution levels offers some relief, authorities continue to urge residents to take precautions, especially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, as cold weather and poor air quality together can pose health risks.
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