Delhi shivers as temperature drops to 5.7 degrees, the longest cold spell in 22 years

With most
weather stations, other than Safdarjung, recording on Tuesday, maximum
temperatures at least 4.5 degrees Celsius lower than the normal maximum
temperature. Delhi is facing its longest cold spell in 22 years.

Thus far,
Delhi’s cold spell this December has been eight days if only Safdarjung station
is considered and eleven days if other stations are considered. In 1997, there
was a cold spell for 13 days in December. “Delhi so far has recorded longest
and extreme cold day spell in December month, since 1997,” the India
Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

Since 1993,
Delhi has seen cold days only in 10 years, and had a cold spell only in four
(before this year) — 1997, 1998, 2003, and 2014.

The IMD statement
added that a cold spell has prevailed over north Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
during the same period from December 15 to 24; in parts of Bihar between
December 17 and 22 and over northern parts of Madhya Pradesh between December
17 and 20.

Delhi recorded
a cold day on Tuesday also with all stations in Delhi except Safdarjung station
meeting the criteria (a maximum temperature 4.5 degrees C below normal). The
maximum temperature at Safdarjung was 17.2 degrees, 4.2 degrees below normal
while the minimum temperature was 5.7 degrees C, 2 degrees below normal.

The reason
cold spells are uncommon is because they got boosted up by multiple factors,
all acting together.

The main
difference between a cold spell and a cold wave is that the former involves
lower-than-normal maximum or day temperatures for two-three days in a row while
the latter involves lower-than-expected minimum or night temperatures for at
least more than one day. In the coming days we could see both, experts say.

IMD on Tuesday
said: “due to favourable meteorological conditions, dense to very dense fog in
the morning hours and cold day to severe cold day conditions is very likely
over Delhi in the next two days.”

Dense to
very dense fog in the morning hours and cold day conditions are also likely
over Uttar Pradesh during the next five days.

The wind
speed on Tuesday was also very low at only 6 to 8 kmph in Delhi making
conditions unfavourable for dispersion. The AQI reading was 383 — in the very
poor category, almost bordering severe.