Delhi records coldest morning of ongoing winter season
New Delhi: The national capital Delhi has recorded its coldest morning of the ongoing winter season on Saturday, with the minimum temperature dropping to 4.2 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The temperature was 2.7 degrees below the seasonal average.
This is the lowest minimum temperature recorded in Delhi so far this winter. The previous coldest January day in recent years was on January 15, 2024, when the mercury had dipped to 3.3 degrees Celsius, triggering cold wave conditions across the city.
Station-wise data from IMD showed that Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 4.2 degrees Celsius, while Palam and Ayanagar both logged 4.5 degrees Celsius. Lodhi Road reported 4.7 degrees Celsius, and the Ridge station recorded 5.3 degrees Celsius, indicating a sharp dip in temperatures across Delhi.
Saturday’s cold conditions followed Friday’s second-coldest morning of the season, when the minimum temperature stood at 4.6 degrees Celsius. Earlier, the third-lowest minimum temperature of the season was recorded on December 4 and 5 last year at 5.6 degrees Celsius, followed by December 1 at 5.7 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has forecast dense fog conditions during the day. Relative humidity was recorded at 100 per cent at 9 am.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained a concern. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category at 9 am, with a reading of 366.
As per CPCB standards, an AQI between 301 and 400 is classified as ‘very poor’, while readings above 400 fall under the ‘severe’ category.
