Delhi records coldest November: IMD
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said that the national capital witnessed its coldest November day so far this season on Sunday, with the maximum temperature dropping to 24.3 degrees Celsius, 1.7 degrees below normal. According to IMD data, the maximum temperature settled at its lowest of the season at 24.3 degrees Celsius, while the second-lowest was 25 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, this November was Delhi’s coldest in five years, as nights slipped to 8 degrees Celsius, the lowest in three years, and the monthly average minimum settled at 11.5 degrees Celsius.
The Capital logged a minimum of 7.3°C on November 29, 2022. However, this year, the temperature is yet to fall below the 8°C threshold. In comparison, last year the lowest maximum for November was 23.5 degrees Celsius, recorded on the 18th, the Met data read.
According to the data, the last time Delhi logged a cooler November was in 2020, when the average minimum was 10.3°C. Then, Delhi clocked seven days with temperatures lower than 8°C. The minimum fell to 7.5°C as early as November 15 and the lowest minimum was recorded at 6.3°C on November 23, 2020. The city’s lowest minimum this year so far was 8 degrees Celsius, while last year it was 9.5 degrees Celsius, and in 2023 it was 9.2 degrees Celsius, according to the data.
The average minimum November temperatures from 2021 to 2024 were 11.9°C, 12.3°C, 13°C and 14.7°C, respectively.
November was completely dry this year, with Delhi not recording a single rainy day, underlining a continuing dry spell during the post-monsoon season, just like last year.
In contrast, November 2023 had two rainy days.
Higher nighttime humidity and falling temperatures have been aiding the formation of secondary pollutants that has kept the air quality from improving further despite clearer skies, officials said. While overall conditions in Delhi remain largely stable, western disturbances earlier in the month helped nudge temperatures downward.
The IMD forecast indicates no major western disturbance approaching in the next few days, which should keep surface winds light. Despite a slightly warmer Saturday, minimum temperatures are expected to fall gradually again in the coming days.” Minimum temperature is likely to be around 9-10°C over the next couple of days, while shallow fog may also be seen during the morning hours over the next few days, Sunday onwards,” an IMD official said.
Regional weather patterns may also be influenced by cyclonic storm Ditwah over the southwest Bay of Bengal, given that it is likely to gradually move north-northwestwards.
