New Delhi, Jan 06 (UNI): Delhi on Tuesday recorded cold weather conditions, with the maximum temperature in the city dropping by over 5 degrees, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The officials warned that cold-weather conditions are likely on Wednesday.
The maximum temperature at Palam and Lodhi Road weather stations in Delhi dropped to 13 °C and 15.8°C respectively, departing 5.7 and 5.2 degrees below normal, recording cold day conditions for the first time in the month of January this winter season.
“Maximum temperature has been observed in the range of 13-16 degrees Celsius with Cold Day Conditions over Delhi (Palam, Lodi Road). It is the first day of such conditions. It is likely to continue tomorrow as well,” said the IMD officials.
A cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature falls below 10°C and is at least 4.5°C below normal, with the requirement that at least two weather stations record these conditions for two consecutive days.
Meanwhile, the drop was noted only for maximum temperatures in the city, as the minimum in the city settled in the near-normal range for the month, between 7°C and 8.5°C.
As temperatures plunged, foul air tightened its grip over Delhi and neighbouring cities, with Ghaziabad recording the worst air quality at an AQI of 322, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At 4 p.m., the 24-hour rolling average of Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) plummeted to 310 in the ‘very poor’ category, deteriorating from the previous day’s reading of 244 with PM 2.5 as the lead pollutant.
Toxic smog continued to shroud the region despite westerly winds prevailing over Delhi in the past 24 hours, with wind speeds touching 15 kmph, the weather department said.
Under CPCB standards, an AQI between 51 and 100 is considered “satisfactory”, 101-200 “moderate”, 201-300 “poor”, 301- 400 “very poor”, and any reading above 400 falls in the “severe” category.
