Delhi on Friday experienced a chilling day with the maximum temperature plummeting to 14.6 degrees Celsius, five degrees below the normal range. About half a dozen weather stations recorded the maximum temperature hovering around 13 degrees Celsius, marking the season’s lowest and the second “severe cold day”. The upper atmosphere of Delhi remained shrouded in thick fog throughout the day, blocking sunlight and creating “cold day” conditions, as predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Despite a minimum temperature of 9.4 degrees Celsius, which is three notches above normal, the cold spell persisted.
The ongoing cold spell in Delhi led to a record-breaking peak winter power demand of 5,559 MW on Friday. According to the IMD, a “cold day” occurs when the minimum temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature decreases by 4.5-6.4 degrees below the normal range for the season. On the other hand, a “severe cold day” is declared when temperatures drop by 6.5 degrees Celsius below the average for the season.
According to the IMD, the Safardjung Observatory reported a minimum temperature of 9.4 degrees Celsius at 8:30 am, exceeding the normal range by more than two notches. Conversely, the Ridge Observatory recorded a low of 9.1 degrees Celsius. The temperature difference between the maximum and minimum was minimal, with the mercury touching 9.4 degrees Celsius in the morning, a degree above normal.
Various locations in and around Delhi recorded different maximum temperatures: Jafarpur at 13.1 degrees Celsius, Ridge at 13.2 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road at 13.2 degrees Celsius, SPS Mayur Vihar at 13.3 degrees Celsius, Palam at 13.8 degrees Celsius, Narela at 14 degrees Celsius, Pitampura at 14 degrees Celsius, Ayanagar at 14.2 degrees Celsius, Pusa at 14.3 degrees Celsius, Noida at 13.2 degrees Celsius, Gurugram at 14.1 degrees Celsius, Faridabad at 13.1 degrees Celsius, and Ghaziabad at 13.1 degrees Celsius.
Delhi last experienced a colder day on January 25, 2022, when the mercury plummeted to 12.1 degrees Celsius. The capital’s coldest day on record occurred on December 30, 2019, with a maximum temperature of just 9.4 degrees Celsius.
A day is categorised as “cold” when the maximum temperature falls 4.5-6.4 degrees below the seasonal norm. Conversely, a “severe cold” day is declared if temperatures plunge 6.5 degrees below the average for the season.
Real-time data from the State Load Dispatch Centre indicated that Delhi’s peak winter power demand reached 5,559 MW at 11:05 am. Officials noted that the previous highest peak demand witnessed in Delhi during the winter was 5,526 MW on January 6, 2023.
A BSES spokesperson reported that BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited successfully met peak power demands of 2,379 MW and 1,136 MW, respectively, in their respective areas. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, responsible for power supply in North Delhi, achieved a peak power demand of 1,735 MW, said a company spokesperson.
