Minimum mercury below 10°C for 9 days in a row in Delhi, longest stretch in at least 10 years

Scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said north India is unlikely to see a western disturbance at all this month, as a result of which the minimum temperature is predicted to fall below 7°C.

The lack of western disturbances in the second half of November has given free reign to cold, northwesterly winds in the region, pushing Delhi’s minimum mercury below 10°C earlier than usual and keeping it in this zone for nine days at a stretch now — the longest such spell in at least a decade.

People walk on a smoggy morning at Lodhi Garden in New Delhi on Saturday. (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo)

Delhi on Saturday recorded a minimum temperature of 8.3°C, marginally higher than 7.6°C a day ago, but still three degrees below normal.

Scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said north India is unlikely to see a western disturbance at all this month, as a result of which the minimum temperature is predicted to fall below 7°C.

The city’s minimum temperature dipped below 10°C for the first time this year on November 18, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). November 25 has, so far, been the coldest day this season, with a low of 7.8°C.

“The first half of November saw the impact of two or three western disturbances influencing Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), but we have not seen any such weather systems impacting the region in the second half of the month. This has made winds extremely dry and cold,” said RK Jenamani, scientist at IMD.

He added, “The lack of moisture means there are clear skies during the day and night. Clear skies during the day allows the surface to heat up quickly. However, this heat escapes just as quickly at night, with no clouds left to trap it. As a result, the night-time temperature is below normal.”

Mahesh Palawat, vice-president at private weather forecaster Skymet, said November generally sees three or four western disturbances.

“Such a prolonged spell of the minimum temperature hovering below 10°C in November is unusual,” he said.

According to Delhi’s long-period average (LPA) from 1981, the minimum dips below 10°C only in the last four days of the month. Even then, the average minimum temperature in this period is 9.9°C.

Forecasts show that Delhi’s minimum temperature will remain around 7-8°C until the end of the month, possibly giving the city 13 straight days of single-digit minimum temperatures.