Delhi-NCR is yet to feel the true bite of winter, even though the third week of December has already begun. According to data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday, temperatures in the region continue to remain higher than usual for this time of the year.
Between Wednesday and Thursday morning (8:30 AM), Lodhi Road recorded a maximum temperature of 25.4°C which is 2.4°C above normal. The minimum temperature stood at 8.6°C also 0.6°C above the seasonal average. IMD officials say this warmer-than-usual pattern has persisted throughout December and is expected to continue through the coming week.
Lack of western disturbances delaying winter
Explaining the delayed winter chill, Dr Naresh Kumar, senior scientist at IMD, told that the seasonal drop in temperature largely depends on western disturbances which draw in dry and cold northwesterly winds from the Himalayas.
“There has been no active western disturbance so far this season. That is why Delhi-NCR and nearby areas have not experienced a cold wave yet,” he said.
According to the IMD, a weak western disturbance may affect the western Himalayan region on December 13, but it is not likely to influence the weather in Delhi-NCR. It may bring only light rain to parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Instead of getting colder, Delhi might experience slightly milder nights. The IMD predicts that the minimum temperature may rise by 2–4°C in the coming week, taking night temperatures to 9–10°C, resulting in a more pleasant winter phase rather than a sharp chill.
Northern mountains report sub-zero conditions
While Delhi waits for winter to intensify, many northern mountainous regions are already experiencing harsh cold. The IMD’s latest bulletin notes that minimum temperatures have fallen below 5°C at several places in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad during the past 24 hours.
Cold wave grips central and eastern states
In contrast to Delhi’s milder trend, parts of the country are in the grip of severe cold. West Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha reported cold wave to severe cold wave conditions at several locations. Cold wave conditions were also observed at isolated places in Punjab, Vidarbha, North Interior Karnataka and Telangana.
For the past six days, cold wave conditions have persisted in western Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. However, the capital region will have to wait longer for the familiar sharp winter bite, as weather patterns continue to delay the onset of cold northerly winds.