Mercury touches 3 degrees Celsius as cold wave hits Delhi

The mercury dropped to 3 degrees Celsius in the ridge region, 4.9 degrees Celsius below normal, making it the coldest place in the capital.
New Delhi: A cold wave hit parts of Delhi on Sunday, with the minimum temperature dropping to 3 degrees Celsius in the Ridge region, the India Meteorological Department said.
According to the IMD, a few places in the capital also reported a cold day — when the minimum temperature was less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature was at least 4.5 degrees Celsius below normal.

Dense fog and cold wave conditions are predicted in most parts of the city on Monday.

Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi’s premier weather station, recorded a minimum temperature of 5.3 degrees Celsius — three notches below normal.

The maximum temperature was 16.2 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal and the lowest temperature recorded so far this season.

The mercury dropped to 3 degrees Celsius in the ridge region, 4.9 degrees Celsius below normal, making it the coldest place in the capital.

Aya Nagar weather station recorded a minimum temperature of 3.5 degrees Celsius — 4.5 degrees below normal.

Dense to very dense fog prevailed in parts of National Capital Region, Haryana, Punjab, West Uttar Pradesh and North Rajasthan.

The IMD said foggy conditions will continue in these areas for the next few days.

According to the IMD, “very dense” fog is between 0 and 50 meters, while 51 and 200 meters are “dense”, 201 and 500 are “moderate” and 501 and 1,000 are “shallow”.

In the plains, the IMD has declared a cold wave if the minimum temperature drops below 4 degrees Celsius. A cold wave is also declared when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and 4.5 points below normal.

A “severe” cold wave is when the minimum temperature drops to two degrees Celsius or exceeds 6.4 degrees Celsius when it departs from normal.

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 319 at 6 pm, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said.