Delhi’s minimum temperature rose to 9°C on Friday, providing relief after the season’s coldest day on Thursday, when the temperature plunged to 4.5°C, four degrees below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD reported that several areas in Northwest India, including Alwar, Delhi, Karnal, Phalodi, Patiala, and Rohtak, recorded temperature increases of over 2°C.
No significant change in minimum temperatures is expected across Northwest and Central India for the next 4-5 days, though a slight rise of about 2°C may follow.
In East India, minimum temperatures are predicted to drop by 2-3°C in the first half of the week, with no major changes later. West India (excluding Gujarat) will experience a gradual rise of 2-3°C in the coming days.
Cold Wave Warnings
The IMD has issued cold wave warnings for several regions, including Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, which are likely to experience cold wave conditions in the first half of the week.
Isolated cold waves are also expected in Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Delhi between December 13-14.
Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are under cold wave warnings for December 12-13, while Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Muzaffarabad will face cold waves from December 13-16. Cold day conditions are expected in parts of Madhya Pradesh on December 13 and 14.
Dense Fog Warnings
Dense fog is forecasted for late-night and early-morning hours in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Bihar (until December 13), and the north-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura throughout the week.
‘Poor’ Air Quality
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “poor” category on Friday, exacerbated by a combination of smog and fog. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 277 at 7 a.m.
The AQI scale categorizes air quality as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), and 401-500 (severe).
