NEW DELHI: The season’s lowest minimum temperature was recorded at 11.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, five notches below normal for this time of the season. Last year, too, Delhi had recorded a low of 11.4 degrees in the same month, but it was in the third week on November 20.
Officials of India Meteorological Department (IMD) said minimal cloud cover over the region was leading to extreme temperatures, high during daytime and switching to low at night. The minimum temperature is forecast to remain around 11 degrees Celsius for the next two days, rising slightly to 12 degrees on November 4.
Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at IMD and head of Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, said that lack of cloud cover was influencing the temperature directly with Delhi also not receiving any rain since September 8.
“Cloud cover tends to trap radiation, leading to warmer nights. But since there is no cloud cover, night temperature is dropping quickly. We are also recording conditions at night where winds are calm, again leading to a drop in temperature, which is below normal. We expect this trend to continue. An increase in snowfall activity in the hills could lead to a further drop in temperature,” added Srivastava.
Before Sunday, the lowest minimum temperature recorded this season was on October 28 when it was 12.5 degrees Celsius. This October was also Delhi’s coldest in the past 58 years, if mean minimum temperature was analysed, IMD data showed. The mean minimum temperature in October this year was 17.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1962 when it was 16.9 degrees. Normally, it is 19.1 degrees Celsius for Delhi in October.
While Safdarjung, Delhi’s base station for weather, recorded a minimum of 11.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, Lodhi Road recorded a minimum of 11.6 degrees Celsius. Palam had a minimum of 13.8 degrees. In comparison, Gurgaon recorded a minimum of 19.9 degrees Celsius.
Met officials said similar conditions were expected to continue this week, with the minimum expected to hover around 11 degrees Celsius for the next two days. “Shallow mist and fog is also expected during the morning. Temperatures should remain in a similar range for the next few days,” said an official.