Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
Delhi’s mercury dips to 9°C
NEW DELHI: Delhi on Saturday recorded its lowest minimum temperature this winter so far, with the mercury dipping t o
9 degrees Celsius, three notches below the normal.
Saturday’s minimum was marginally lower than Friday’s, when the Safdarjung observatory, which is considered the representative station for Delhi’s weather, recorded a minimum temperature of 9.6°C.
However, the maximum temperature on Saturday settled at 27°C — one degree below normal for this time of the year, higher than Friday’s maximum of 25.9°C.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist RK Jenamani attributed the cold spell to northwesterly winds blowing towards Delhi from snow-capped mountains, but added that with a drop in wind speeds, the temperature is expected to marginally rise on Sunday.
“The temperature is likely to increase marginally on Sunday but it will continue to be in the 9-11°C range. From November 21-22, the wind speed is expected to increase and the temperature in the Capital will start dipping further,” Jenamani said.
On Friday, IMD said that apart from the cold northwesterly winds, a clear sky and the lack of a major western disturbance would mean that the temperature will continue to fluctuate between 9-11 degrees for a few days.
According to the IMD’s weekly forecast, Delhi’s maximum temperature is expected to hover around 27°C on Sunday
as well, while the minimum temperature is expected to stay around 10°C. A partly cloudy sky with mist in the morning is also expected on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality levels marginally improved on Saturday but stayed in the “poor” zone.
The Capital logged an air quality index (AQI) of 280, according to the 4pm bulletin released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). On Friday, Delhi’s AQI was 289.
Smoke from stubble fires contributed to 14% of Delhi’s PM2.5 levels on Saturday, up from 11% on Friday, according to data from the Union ministry of earth science’s air quality monitoring centre, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar).
According to Safar, the Capital’s AQI is likely to be in the “poor” or in lower end of the “very poor” category on Sunday.