NCR colder than hill stations
The National Capital Region (NCR) is colder than several Himalayan hill stations. Gurugram recorded a historic 0.6 degrees Celsius, its lowest temperature in nearly five decades, while Delhi isn’t far behind and is freezing at a minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. In contrast, hill stations were far warmer, with Mussoorie at 6 degrees Celsius and Shimla at 5.2 degrees.
The “chill factor,” or wind chill, in Delhi is currently making the “real feel” temperature significantly lower than the actual recorded temperature, with intense cold wave conditions prevailing on Tuesday.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave conditions prevailed over the national capital for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday as temperatures dipped further and are likely to persist over the next day.
The IMD said that Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 21.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, which was 1.7 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 3.0 degrees Celsius, plunging 4.4 notches below the seasonal average.
A stark and unusual meteorological divide gripped northern India on Tuesday, with the plains of the northwest recording significantly lower minimum temperatures than the hills — a phenomenon that has left the region in the grip of a severe cold wave and dense morning fog.
According to the weather department, the minimum temperature of around 3 degrees Celsius recorded at several stations made it the coldest January morning in the national capital in three years. Delhi had last recorded a lower minimum temperature of 1.4 degrees Celsius on January 16, 2023. Station-wise data recorded at 5.30 pm showed that Safdarjung Observatory, the city’s principal weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 21.6 degrees Celsius.
Lodhi Road logged the highest maximum at 22.0 degrees Celsius, while Ayanagar recorded 21.9 degrees Celsius. Ridge recorded a maximum temperature of 21.4 degrees Celsius, and Palam reported a relatively lower maximum of 19.2 degrees Celsius.
Minimum temperatures remained sharply below normal across the city. Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 3.0 degrees Celsius, which was 4.4 degrees below normal.
Palam logged a minimum of 4.0 degrees Celsius, 3.3 notches below normal, while Lodhi Road recorded 3.0 degrees Celsius, three notches below the seasonal average.
