Delhi Weather Update: Respite From Chilling Cold, Minimum Temperature Recorded Near 12 Degree Celsius

Due to the dense fog, as many as six flights were delayed which were scheduled to depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) early morning on Friday.

New Delhi: With rain recorded in several parts of the national capital on Thursday, Delhites got some respite from the chilling cold wave. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature recorded on Friday morning was 12.2 degree Celsius with moderate fog. 

The minimum temperature in Safdarjung was recorded to be 9.8°C whereas in Palam it stood at 12.4°C till 8.30 am, as per IMD. Meanwhile, the humidity was recorded at 97 per cent and the East-northeasterly wind at 5.4 km.

The visibility in Palam and Safdarjung area was recorded at 500 metres.

However, due to the dense fog around six flights were delayed which were scheduled to depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) early morning on Friday.

According to ANI, among them were Delhi-San Francisco/Kathmandu, Delhi-Chandigarh-Kullu, Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Dharamshala-Chandigarh, Delhi-Shimla- Dharamshala, Delhi-Dehradun.

However, the IMD has stated that the cold wave conditions are likely to re-emerge over North-West India and peak around January 15 to 16 with minimum temperatures expected to dip.

Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology and climate change), of Skymet Weather, said sub-zero temperatures are expected in some parts of Rajasthan such as Churu and Sikar next week.

"The mercury may dip to minus 2 degrees Celsius at these places, which is not unusual," he said. 

"A severe cold wave is likely to wallop Delhi on January 16 and 17 and minimum temperatures in the city may drop to two to four degrees Celsius," he added.

An independent weatherman predicted that temperatures in the plains may drop to an immobilizing minus four degrees Celsius next week.

Palawat, however, said the upcoming cold wave spell is unlikely to match the intensity of the previous one because another western disturbance will bring relief starting January 19.

"The gap between two western disturbances is shorter this time," he said.

A severe cold wave is when the minimum temperature dips to 2 degrees Celsius or the departure from the normal limits is by more than 6.4 notches. A cold day is when the minimum temperature is less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is at least 4.5 notches below normal.

A severe cold day is when the maximum temperature is at least 6.5 notches below normal.

(With agency inputs)