Delhi Freezes: India’s Capital Braces for Season’s Coldest Temperatures
North India is under the grip of a bone-chilling cold wave, with the national capital, Delhi, facing its season’s lowest temperature so far. Delhi shivered at a frigid 4.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, a stark reminder of winter’s icy presence. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts the mercury could plummet further to a bone-numbing 4 degrees Celsius by Thursday.
This frosty spell has extended its icy fingers across other parts of North India, impacting states like Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir, which saw fresh snowfall on Wednesday.
IMD Issues Cold Wave Warnings
The regional meteorological center in Delhi issued a warning, forecasting “Mainly clear sky with cold wave conditions at isolated places” for Thursday. The IMD predicts that morning and evening hours will likely experience a dense blanket of smog or mist, while the daytime temperatures hover around 23 degrees Celsius.
Looking ahead, the IMD forecasts similar conditions for December 13. The agency has also issued warnings for other regions, predicting cold wave conditions to persist until December 16 in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
For Saurashtra and Kutch, Delhi, cold wave conditions are expected to last until December 13, while Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Muzaffarabad will experience the frigid conditions from December 13 to December 16.
Coldest December in 14 Years?
News agency PTI reported that the minimum temperatures in early December have dipped below 5 degrees Celsius for the first time in 14 years, prompting concerns about the severity of this winter season. According to IMD data, the lowest recorded minimum temperature during this period was 4.1 degrees Celsius on December 6, 1987.
As Delhi bathes in this icy grip, residents are urged to take necessary precautions to stay warm and safe against the cold wave.