- The average temperature in Delhi was recorded below 17 degrees in 1901 and 1997.
- On Friday, the maximum temperature at Palam center was recorded at 11.8 degrees, 9 degrees below normal.
- In December, 1919, 1929, 1961 and 1997, the average maximum temperature was below 20 degrees.
- 21 trains are running late due to dense fog, air quality is also poor
Winter season continues in North India including Delhi. The minimum temperature was recorded at 4.2 degrees Celsius on Friday morning. Delhi has had such a cold for the second time in 118 years in the month of December. Earlier in December 1901 and 1997, the average temperature was 17.3 degrees Celsius, while in December 2019, the average temperature so far has been 19.85.
On Friday, Delhi’s temperature was 13.4, 7 degrees below normal. It was 9.8 degrees below normal at the Palam center. According to the Meteorological Department, between 1901 and 2019 i.e. 118 years so far, in 4 years – 1919, 1929, 1961 and 1997, the average maximum temperature of December was recorded below 20 degrees.
Delhi’s winter in figures
Second coldest December in 118 years since 1997, averaging 17.3 degrees.
Safdarjung recorded an average temperature of 12.2 degrees on December 18 and 11.6 degrees on December 25 in Palam.
Winter day and severe cold day: Continued in Delhi-NCR from 14 December and likely to continue till 29 December.
After 1997, 22 years, 10 cold days were recorded in the month of December, including seven grueling days.
From December 14, 13 consecutive cold days were recorded at Delhi’s Palam Weather Center, including 8 horrific cold days.
Earlier, Safdarjung recorded 9 cold days in 2003 and 2014, while in 1997, 17 cold days were recorded.
December average mercury likely to be 30 below normal
Director General of Meteorological Department, Dr Mritunjay Mohapatra told Swarnim Times that for the first time in 22 years since 1997, Delhi has had such a cold. Delhi’s average maximum temperature in December is 23 degrees, while in December 1997 it was recorded at 17 degrees. The average maximum temperature for the first 26 days of December this year is 20 degrees and the average temperature is likely to be 3 degrees below normal.
Fog affected train service, air quality deteriorated
Train services have also been affected due to dense fog in North India including Delhi-NCR. 21 trains are running late. At the same time, Delhi’s air quality on Thursday was in the category of very poor. The Air Quality Index was down one point to 349 points as of Wednesday. Wind speeds are expected to be 6 on Friday and 4 km per hour on Saturday. The direction is estimated to remain North West. Due to low wind speed, air quality is likely to deteriorate. AQI can go beyond 400 in some areas of Delhi.