NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded its lowest minimum temperature of the winter season on Wednesday, with the mercury plunging to 4.9 degrees Celsius, a sharp drop from 8 degrees Celsius the previous day.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated, "The minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius reported over Safdarjung is the lowest minimum of this winter season. The same minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius was reported last year also on 15th December."
The coldest minimum temperature ever recorded at the Safdarjung station was 0.0 degrees Celsius on December 27, 1930, according to the IMD.
At 8:30 am on Wednesday, the relative humidity was 64%, and the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 23 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the city's air quality remained in the 'poor' category, although it edged closer to the 'moderate' range. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 207 at 8 am, an improvement from 223 recorded the previous day.
As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and above 400 is classified as 'severe'.
Of the 39 monitoring stations in the city, only RK Puram recorded 'severe' air quality. Twenty-three stations reported 'poor' air quality, while the rest fell under the 'moderate' category, according to data from the Sameer app, which provides hourly air quality updates.