Delhi witnessed a cold Thursday morning as minimum temperatures dropped to 4.5°C, with maximum temperatures peaking at 23°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Residents woke to a thin layer of fog enveloping the city, adding to the winter chill.
Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 4.5°C, while Palam logged 6.0°C minimum and 20°C maximum. Lodhi Road reported 5°C minimum and 23°C maximum, while Ayanagar was the coldest with 3.8°C minimum and 22.4°C maximum.
The IMD predicts clear skies and chilly conditions to persist in Delhi. Smog is expected to dissipate by evening as northwest winds, currently blowing at under 8 km/h, increase to speeds of up to 16 km/h later in the day.
With temperatures dipping further, night shelters in the city saw an influx of people seeking refuge from the biting cold.
Cold wave conditions are predicted to grip isolated pockets across Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir between December 12 and 16, while Delhi is expected to experience similar conditions through December 13.
The chill extends across the Kashmir Valley, where temperatures dropped to -3°C in Srinagar on Wednesday, disrupting daily activities. Meanwhile, Shimla and nearby regions in Himachal Pradesh are reeling under icy conditions following fresh snowfall, further impacting residents’ routines.
The IMD has also issued warnings of dense fog in parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, and the northeastern states during night and morning hours.
Mumbai reported moderate air quality, with smog lingering in several areas, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.
(With inputs from ANI)
