GURUGRAM: The city is likely to witness a cold wave for the next two days as the minimum temperature could dip to below 5°C. This will be the lowest minimum temperature, according to the meteorological department (IMD), in this season so far.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 6.7°C on Tuesday in Ayanagar, the weather station closest to Gurugram. It was five notches below the normal. Gurugram’s minimum temperature was not recorded on Wednesday. Severe cold conditions are likely to continue for the next 48 hours.
“Since a fresh western disturbance over the Himalayas is expected, the region might witness light rain for the next two days. The mercury is likely to dip further because of rain. The city will see cloudy sky with fog during early mornings and evenings for the next 48 hours,” said an IMD official.
The AQI of the city still remained in the ‘poor’ category, which will dip to ‘very poor’ because of the weather conditions. Of the four air monitoring stations, two recorded ‘very poor’ air, while the other two reported ‘poor’ air on Tuesday. Overall air quality index (AQI) of Gurugram was 296 on Tuesday.
According to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the pollution levels are likely to go up as the minimum temperature is dipping in the region.
Meanwhile, a haze engulfed Delhi on Tuesday after the air quality deteriorated due to meteorological factors. The capital’s air quality index (AQI) was 379 in the “very poor” category.
After Monday’s 6.3 degrees Celsius, Delhi’s minimum temperature was 6.7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, five notches below normal.
As the minimum temperature remained five degrees below normal for the second consecutive day, IMD declared cold wave in Delhi. The maximum temperature was 25.3 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal.
Experts said wind speed, temperature, boundary layers and change in wind direction affected air quality. Visibility dropped to 800 metres at the Safdarjung station from 7.30am to 9am due to shallow fog, IMD officials said.