delhi weather updateAmid severe cold wave in northern India on Saturday, the minimum temperature in the national capital dropped to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for cold wave conditions on Sunday (January 8).
Delhi’s Safdarjung Observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 2.2 degrees Celsius, lower than most places in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and some hill stations in Jammu and Kashmir. The mercury dropped to 2 degrees Celsius and 3.4 degrees Celsius, respectively, at the weather stations at Lodhi Road and Ayanagar.
The minimum temperature dropped by 1.5 degrees Celsius at the Ridge weather station in central Delhi due to severe cold wave. Only a few places in Rajasthan recorded minimum minimum temperature including Banasthali (1.7 °C), Sikar (1 °C), Pilani (0.6 °C) and Churu (0 °C).
A dense layer of fog remained over northwest India and adjoining central and eastern parts of the country, affecting road, rail and air traffic. Dense fog reduced visibility to 25 meters at the Palam Observatory, near the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, early in the morning.
According to the Met Office, “very dense” fog occurs when visibility is between 0 and 50 metres, “dense” between 51 and 200 metres, “moderate” between 201 and 500 metres, and “thick” between 501 and 1,000 metres. The middle is “shallow”.
IMD issues orange alert, dense fog, cold wave conditions
The Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange’ alert for Sunday for parts of north India including Delhi, warning of dense fog, cold day and cold wave conditions. Severe cold wave conditions are likely to continue in some areas of Rajasthan and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on December 8 (Sunday) from Sheetlahar.
However, there is a possibility of some respite after a few days under the influence of one Western Disturbance, the IMD said. In the plains, the weather office declares a cold wave if the minimum temperature is 4°C or 10°C and 4.5° below normal.
Trains delayed due to dense fog
A Northern Railway spokesperson said 36 trains were running late by one hour to seven hours due to foggy conditions. With its base station recording a minimum temperature of 2.2 degrees Celsius, Delhi Chamba (5.8 degrees), Dalhousie (8.3 degrees), Dharamshala (9.2 degrees), Shimla (7.8 degrees), Hamirpur (3.9 degrees), Manali (4 degrees) remained colder than degrees), Kangra (5.6 degrees), Solan (3 degrees), Dehradun (6 degrees), Mussoorie (8.1 degrees) and Nainital (5.8 degrees), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cold snap is putting a strain on the power grid and posing challenges to the homeless and animals. The winter power demand in Delhi rose to a record 5,526 MW on Friday.
Effect of cold on many sectors
IMD warned of impact on agriculture, livestock, water supply, transport and power sector in some places. The weatherman also said that frostbite can be caused by prolonged exposure to cold and that one should not ignore shivering, the first sign that the body is losing heat, and should stay indoors. fluids to maintain adequate immunity. Avoid or limit outdoor activities,” it said in an advisory.
A severe cold wave occurs when the minimum temperature drops by 2 °C or the departure from the normal range is more than 6.4 °C. A cold day is when the minimum temperature is less than or equal to 10 °C and the maximum temperature is at least 4.5 °C below normal. An extremely cold day is one when the maximum temperature is at least 6.5 degrees below normal.
(With inputs from PTI)
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