Delhi Welcomes New Year With Cold Day, Winter Chill Intensifies In Other Parts Of North India
Delhi experienced a cold day on the first day of new year 2025 while intense cold condition gripped other parts of north India as well.
Delhiites woke up to a chilly morning on the first day of the new year 2025 with the India Meteorological Department predicting a cold day for the national capital.
A cold day is marked when the minimum temperature is under 10 degrees Celsius and the highest or lowest temperature is at least 4.5 degrees less than what is considered normal for a given period.
If the minimum temperature on a said day is less than 4 degrees, then too, it is called a "cold day."
The weather department has predicted similar cold day conditions in the next few days.
The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'moderate' category with an Air Quality Index of 278. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good,' 51 and 100 'satisfactory,' 101 and 200 'moderate,' 201 and 300 'poor,' 301 and 400 'very poor,' and 401 and 500 'severe.'
Other parts of north India also continue to be in the grip of chilling winters with upper reaches receiving snowfall. The cold wave condition intensified across Kashmir on Tuesday with fresh spells of light to moderate snowfall expected over the next week in the valley.
The famous tourist destination of Gulmarg, known for skiing activities, recorded a low minus 11.5 degrees Celsius while the Amarnath Yatra base camp in Pahalgam registered a minimum of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius.
Large swathes of Uttar Pradesh have also been experiencing intense cold with maximum temperature dipping by more than 5 degrees Celsius in at least 50 districts, according to the weather department.
The intense cold conditions are likely till Wednesday, according to Atul Kumar Singh, a senior scientist at the Met office in Lucknow.
"After the fog layer dissipates under the influence of the next western disturbance, temperatures are likely to rise again," Singh told PTI. In view of the intensified cold, the administration has advised people to take precautions to guard against the chill, especially during the night.