Cold Wave Conditions to Continue in Delhi & Other Northern States; IMD Issues Fog & Rain Alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted cold wave to continue in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The minimum temperature in Delhi was 8.1 degrees Celsius, which was somewhat higher than normal. 

According to IMD officials, the highest temperature is expected to be 14 degrees Celsius, with a relative humidity of 87% at 8.30 a.m. 

On Saturday, Delhi had its coldest day in two years, with the lowest temperature falling below 15 degrees Celsius. Delhiites braved the bone-chilling cold with the sun behind a layer of fog and icy winds.  Till Sunday, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the national capital. 

The India Meteorological Department forecasted severe cold day conditions in scattered pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan during the next two days on Sunday. 

Delhi sees cloudy sky, fog 

On Sunday morning, the national capital witnessed partly cloudy sky and moderate fog. According to the report, on Saturday, a thick fog obscured the sun, and the minimum temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory, which serves as the city's official marker for the city, settled at 6.1 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal. 

Severe cold day conditions occurred in Narela and Jafarpur, where the highest temperatures fell to 10.7 degrees Celsius and 10.9 degrees Celsius, respectively, seven and nine notches below normal. On Saturday, Narela was also the coldest spot in Delhi. 

On Friday, the automated weather stations in Narela and Jafarpur recorded high temperatures of 11 degrees Celsius and 12.1 degrees Celsius, respectively. 

Delhi air quality in 'very poor' zone 

Showing no signs of relief, the air quality in the national capital stood in the 'very poor' category for the second day in a row on Sunday morning. Residents of Delhi awoke to a foggy morning today, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 301, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India. A thick layer of fog covered the city, which had been choked by severe pollution for months. 

Faridabad and Ghaziabad had air quality readings of 273 and 245, respectively. The air quality in Noida was also 'very poor,' with an AQI of 309, while in Gurugram, the AQI was 204, and the air quality remained 'poor.' 

Light rainfall on Jan 21 

According to RK Jenamani, senior scientist at IMD, Delhi is expected to see cold day conditions on January 16 or 17, as a similar pattern of fog or low cloud may persist over Delhi and other northwest Indian states. Jenamani stated that the western disturbance is expected to have an influence on the plans, and that the weather may improve from January 17th afternoon. 

The highest and lowest temperatures are expected to settle at 14 and 6 degrees Celsius, respectively. On January 21, the city may get light rain as a result of a western disturbance. 

Fog alert for Two Days 

Meanwhile, the weather department has issued a fog alert for the nation's capital, predicting that moderate to dense fog would dominate for the next few days.