New Delhi: Delhi reeled under "cold day" conditions for the sixth day in a row on Tuesday, and similar conditions are likely to prevail until Thursday, the weather office has said, news agency PTI reported.
The minimum temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory was recorded at 8.5 degrees Celsius, which was a notch above normal, while the maximum temperature of 15.4 degrees Celsius was four notches below the average temperature.
Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge Ayanagar, Jafarpur, Najafgarh and Narela weather stations recorded 'cold day' and 'severe cold day' conditions, the report said.
At Jafarpur, Narela and Palam, the minimum temperature was recprded at 12.8 degrees, 13.1 degrees and 13.8 degrees, respectively — at least six degrees below normal.
The India Meteorological Department, or IMD, calls it a "cold day" when the minimum temperature is less than 10 degrees Celsius, and the maximum is at least 4.5 degrees below normal.
When the maximum temperature is at least 6.5 degrees below normal, it is defined as a "severe cold day".
Meanhwile, the 24-hour air quality index of Delhi was recorded in the 'very poor' category (352), according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board.
The Met department has forecast shallow fog for Wednesday when the minimum and maximum temperatures could to hover around 11 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius, respectively, the PTI report said.
During the next five days, the IMD said, minimum temperatures could see a rise of two to four degrees in Northwest India due to the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance.
This could result in widespread rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan from January 21 to 23.