Thursday marked Delhi‘s coldest December day in three years as the minimum temperature plummeted to 4.5°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Cold wave conditions gripped the city, with temperatures in the Pusa and Ayangar areas dropping even further to 3.2°C and 3.8°C, respectively.
The IMD defines a cold wave as temperatures below 4.1°C or a deviation of over 4.4°C below normal. Thursday’s 4.5°C minimum was 0.4°C below the average, and significantly lower than the 5°C recorded the previous day. December temperatures hadn’t dipped below 4.9°C in 2022 or 2023, with the lowest in December 2023 being 4.9°C and 5°C in December 2022.
The IMD forecasts further cold wave conditions for Delhi on Friday, with the minimum temperature expected to hover around 4°C. Clear skies are predicted during the day, with smog or mist likely in the morning and evening. The maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to be 23°C and 4°C, respectively.
Saturday’s outlook predicts similar conditions, with cold waves persisting in isolated areas. Winds from the northwest are expected to dominate, with speeds varying from 8 kmph in the morning to 12-14 kmph during the afternoon, before slowing in the evening.
Cold wave conditions are set to persist across North India, with Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Chandigarh experiencing below-normal temperatures until December 15. In Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, these conditions are expected until December 13, while Madhya Pradesh is likely to see cold wave days until December 16.
East India, including Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand, will also face the chill until December 14. Delhi is forecast to remain under the grip of cold wave conditions on December 13 and 14.
Dense fog is predicted in areas such as Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and other northeastern states, while ground frost conditions are likely in Uttar Pradesh.
The cold snap has brought a noticeable chill to daily routines in the capital. Residents bundled up as temperatures dropped sharply, and smoggy mornings reduced visibility, adding challenges for commuters. Authorities have urged citizens to take precautions against the cold, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.
With no significant rise in temperatures expected soon, Delhi and neighboring regions brace for more freezing days ahead.