A severe cold snap has tightened its grip over large parts of India, turning the first half of November into what feels like the full onset of winter. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), minimum temperatures have remained below normal on almost every single day this month.
Across the country, minimum temperatures have been running 2°C to 6°C below normal in many regions. The IMD has stated that minimum temperatures are likely to continue hovering between “below normal” and “normal” levels over the next five days.
Delhi, in particular, is experiencing an unusually cold start to the winter season. Amid very poor air quality that has left residents gasping, the national capital has recorded its earliest single-digit minimum temperature in 11 years. Since November 15, the minimum temperature in Delhi has consistently stayed below 10°C.
On Monday, the city logged a minimum temperature of 8.7°C, which was 3.6 degrees below normal and marked the lowest November minimum in the past three years. Night temperatures across various parts of Delhi ranged between 9°C and 11°C, while the day’s maximum temperature settled between 24°C and 26°C.
Although a slight increase of about 1°C was observed in the last 24 hours, temperatures continue to remain “appreciably below normal” at many locations.
In its latest bulletin, the IMD has forecast shallow to moderate fog on Wednesday, followed by mainly clear skies with morning fog from November 20 to 24. The mercury is expected to drop further once the city receives rainfall, which is likely in the coming days, Skymet Vice President Mahesh Palawat said.
Also Read: Snow blocks Manali-Leh road, cold wave persists
COLD WAVE CONDITIONS
The cold spell isn’t limited to the north. Mumbai woke up to an unusually cold morning on Tuesday as the Santacruz observatory recorded 17.4°C, a 3.8°C dip below normal for mid-November and lower than Monday’s 17.8°C.
Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions prevailed in parts of central Maharashtra and western Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, with cold wave conditions expected in isolated areas till tomorrow. Minimum temperatures were five notches below normal across Konkan and Goa, central Maharashtra, and western Madhya Pradesh, and at isolated pockets in Saurashtra and Kutch, Vidarbha, Telangana, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
According to the weather bureau, a brief warm-up is expected. Minimum temperatures may rise by 2°C to 3°C over northwest and east India over the next four days before stabilising.
FOGGY, RAINY DAYS AHEAD
In the east, shallow to moderate fog will blanket all districts of West Bengal from today to November 21, reducing visibility even as the nights turn slightly warmer. Dry weather is likely across the state for the next week.
Meanwhile, the south is bracing for more rain. The IMD predicted heavy showers over Tamil Nadu till November 24 and over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands till Saturday. Thunderstorms with lightning are expected over Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mahe, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema for the rest of the week.
Also Read: Haryana, Punjab brace for cold wave till Nov 12
Follow us
