At 2.4 degrees, Delhi records season’s lowest temperature

Delhi
recorded the season’s lowest temperature of 2.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday
morning as cold wave conditions gripped the National Capital Region with a
forecast of “cold day to severe cold day conditions” over the next two days.

The India
Meteorological Department (IMD) said at 6.10am, the minimum temperature was
recorded as 2.4 degrees Celsius as a blanket of fog reduced the visibility to
less than 150 metres.

Delhi is
going to experience cold wave and severe cold day conditions simultaneously
till December 29, after which it could see a rise in day temperature, IMD has
said.

A severe
cold day is when the maximum temperature is 6.4 degrees Celsius lower than
normal while cold wave conditions are recorded when the minimum or night
temperature is below 4.5 degrees Celsius.

There can be
a change in wind direction on Saturday to easterly, temporarily, but night
temperatures will continue to fall.

The cold and
increase in fog cover also pushed the air quality into the ‘severe’ zone from
the ‘very poor’ category.

The air
quality plunged to severe with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reading 407 at
7.30am, as against the overall AQI of 373, the previous day.

IMD
scientists said air quality may deteriorate from December 28-29 due to an
increase in fog cover and reduced wind speed.

However, it
is likely to improve significantly on December 31 on account of a Western
Disturbance, which will bring rainfall and hailstorm.