Delhi woke up to its coldest morning of the winter season on Saturday, with the mercury plummeting to 4.2 degrees Celsius. This temperature is 2.7 degrees below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The sharp drop in temperature follows unusual rainfall on Friday, which had already brought down temperatures across the capital and neighboring areas.
The IMD has issued a "yellow alert" for Delhi, warning of cold wave conditions for the next two days, Sunday and Monday. The alert also cautions residents about the likelihood of moderate to dense fog, especially during the early morning and late-night hours, which may reduce visibility and cause travel disruptions. Cold day conditions are also expected at isolated places across Delhi-NCR.
Several weather stations across the city recorded a sharp dip in minimum temperatures. Safdarjung, considered Delhi's base station, recorded a minimum of 4.2 degrees Celsius. Other stations reported similar lows: Palam at 4.5 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road at 4.7 degrees Celsius, the Ridge station at 5.3 degrees Celsius and Ayanagar also at 4.5 degrees Celsius.
Saturday’s reading marks the coldest winter morning the city has experienced since January 15, 2024, when the minimum temperature fell to 3.3 degrees Celsius, triggering cold wave conditions. The maximum temperature on Friday settled at 19.7 degrees Celsius, slightly above normal, offering only brief respite from the chilling nights.
Adding to the weather woes, Delhi's air quality has deteriorated to the "very poor" category. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to 366. According to CPCB classification, an AQI between 301 and 400 is considered "very poor". High AQI levels have been recorded across various areas, with Nehru Nagar reporting the highest pollution level at 426.
The IMD has stated that cold wave conditions are expected to persist across north and northwest India in the coming days. Cold wave conditions are declared when the minimum temperature falls about 4.5 to 6.4 degrees below normal. Similar conditions are also likely in isolated pockets of other states including Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, North Interior Karnataka and Chandigarh.
In contrast to the chilly north, southern India is bracing for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. The IMD has issued an orange alert for these areas, warning of waterlogging, localized flooding, and disruption to daily life. Coastal districts are likely to experience squally weather, with wind speeds of 40–50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph.
