Delhi experienced its coldest December day in three years on Thursday, with the minimum temperature dropping to 4.5°C. Areas like Pusa and Ayangar recorded 3.2°C and 3.8°C, respectively, amid cold wave conditions, according to the regional meteorological center. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that cold wave conditions will persist in parts of North India until the weekend.
The IMD’s forecast for Friday predicts a minimum temperature of around 4°C in Delhi, with cold wave conditions in isolated areas. There will also be smog and mist in the morning and evening, while the sky is expected to remain mainly clear. The maximum temperature is likely to reach 23°C.
The IMD defines a cold wave as when temperatures drop below 4.1°C or when the departure from the normal temperature exceeds 4.4°C below average. Thursday’s minimum temperature of 4.5°C was 0.4°C below the normal for the month. This sharp drop from Wednesday’s 4.9°C marks the coldest day for December since 2021. Last year, the lowest temperature recorded in December was 4.9°C on the 15th, and in 2022 it was 5°C on the 26th.
On Thursday, Delhi’s maximum temperature was 22.2°C, 0.8°C below the normal. The forecast for the following days includes cold wave conditions and continued mist and smog. For Friday, temperatures will be similar, with northwesterly winds, and the maximum temperature is expected to be around 23°C.
The IMD also issued cold wave alerts for parts of North India. Cold wave conditions are expected in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh until December 15, parts of Haryana and Chandigarh until December 15, and in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh until December 13. Other regions, including Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, will also experience cold wave conditions in the coming days.
In addition, dense fog is predicted in pockets of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and parts of Northeast India, with a risk of ground frost in parts of Uttar Pradesh until December 13.
