Winter chills are increasing in the capital, Delhi. Cold winds have caused a drop in temperature. The cold is severe enough that people can be seen warming their hands by fires at night. This morning, on December 12, the minimum temperature dropped to 4.8 degrees Celsius. At 5:30 AM, Delhi's temperature was 4.8 degrees Celsius, lower than yesterday's minimum of 4.9 degrees Celsius. A cold wave condition persists in the national capital and surrounding areas, likely to continue for the next few days.
While a drop in Delhi's temperature by the end of December is typical, this year's rapid decline started earlier. According to weather forecasting agency Skymet, December’s least temperatures are generally recorded in the last week. The lowest temperature since 2009 in Delhi was 2.4°C, recorded on December 30, 2013, and December 28, 2019. Last December, the lowest temperature was 4.9°C on December 15.
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Source: aajtak
Why is the mercury falling?
After snowfall in the mountains, cold winds are descending the slopes, resulting in a decrease in temperature. A western disturbance is currently hovering over the mountains and will keep the weather active there for the next two days; hence a further drop in temperature during this period is less likely. However, once the weather clears in the mountains, the plains of North India could experience further temperature drops.
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What constitutes a cold wave?
A cold wave in plains is declared when the minimum temperature is 10°C or below and remains 4.5°C below normal for two consecutive days. However, in smaller areas like Delhi, meeting these criteria for even a day can qualify as a cold wave. The second criterion applies when the minimum temperature of the plains drops to 4 degrees Celsius or below.
