Delhi woke up to its coldest morning of the season as a sharp cold wave swept across the national capital, pushing temperatures to near-freezing levels. The minimum temperature plunged to 2.9 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar, making it one of the coldest January readings recorded in the city in over a decade, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Other parts of Delhi also reported unusually low temperatures. Palam recorded a minimum of around 3 degrees Celsius, while the Ridge area saw temperatures close to 3.7 degrees Celsius. At Safdarjung, the city’s official weather station, the minimum temperature stood at 4.8 degrees Celsius, well below the normal average for this time of year.
The intense cold wave was accompanied by dense fog in the early morning hours, which reduced visibility in several areas and caused inconvenience to commuters. While visibility improved later in the day, the fog added to the discomfort faced by residents already dealing with biting cold winds.
The IMD said the severe cold conditions are due to cold northerly winds blowing from snow-covered regions of the Himalayas, combined with clear night skies that allow temperatures to drop sharply. Meteorologists have warned that cold wave conditions are likely to continue for the next few days, especially during night and early morning hours.
Alongside the cold, Delhi’s air quality remained a concern. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stayed in the “poor” category in many parts of the city, increasing health risks for children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems. Doctors have advised residents to limit outdoor exposure, especially during early mornings.
The cold wave is not limited to Delhi alone. Several parts of north India, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand, are experiencing severe winter conditions, with some areas reporting near-zero or sub-zero temperatures.
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