The last day of 2012 was also the coldest. The city shivered as the maximum temperature was recorded at 13.3°C, seven degrees below normal and colder than even Shimla where the maximum temperature was 13.9°C.
Monday was also the coldest December 31 over the past five years.
The minimum temperature was 5.5°C and the lowest of the season so far — two degrees below normal.
“It was very cold in the morning. Getting out of bed was a struggle. There was some sunshine during the day, but the cold winds ensured that everyone kept shivering,” said Monica Ahuja, a Rajinder Nagar resident. December 27, when the maximum temperature dipped to 16.6 °C, was the second coldest day of the season.
The cold spell is expected to continue for the next few days.
According to an Indian Meteorological Department official, strong westerly-northwesterly winds in the morning forced fog to sink, cutting off sunlight during most part of the day on Monday.
The weatherman has forecast fog on Tuesday morning as well followed by a partly cloudy sky. The temperature is expected to be between 15 °C and 5 °C.
“The first day of the new year will be as cold but fog is not expected to be thick. The coming days will be warmer but the nights could get colder,” said the Met official.