Cold to get worse from December 25, says IMD forecast

The severe cold spell which affected the entire northern region last week is likely to continue in the coming week with cold breeze conditions predicted to set in over Delhi and neighbouring states after Christmas, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday.

Sunday was also classified as a “severe” cold day, the fifth in the past seven days, with a maximum temperature of 14.6 degrees Celsius, 7 degrees below normal, and a minimum temperature of 7.4 degrees Celsius.

There was dense fog in the morning hours with less than 150 metres visibility at 5.30am and only 700 metres around 8.30am.

The main difference between a cold day and a cold wave is that a cold day is considered when the maximum temperature or day temperature falls under a certain threshold while a cold wave is considered when the minimum or night temperature falls. The coming days could see both.

The IMD on Sunday said cold wave conditions are likely to develop over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and north Rajasthan on December 25.

“Dense to very dense fog at a few places is very likely during morning hours over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh and at isolated places over East Uttar Pradesh.

Besides, dense fog at isolated places will be witnessed during morning hours over north Rajasthan during next 4-5 days.” They also said cold day to severe cold day conditions are likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during the next 2-3 days.

Air quality is likely to remain in the lower end of the “very poor” to “poor” category on December 23 and 24, according to the ministry of earth science’s air quality early warning system. The wind speed was about 15kmph on Sunday.