City just 2.6°C away from freezing

Swati Sharma / TNN / Jan 9, 2007, 00:44 IST

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The capital is in the grip of a severe cold wave as the minimum temperature on Monday plummeted to 2.6 degrees Celsius.

NEW DELHI: The capital is in the grip of a severe cold wave as the minimum temperature on Monday plummeted to the lowest so far in this season at 2.6 degrees Celsius (four degrees below normal). The chilling temperatures are going to continue over the next two days and the minimum can dip further, predicts the met department.
The absence of fog has been the only good news, but airport met sources have predicted that it will return by late Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Interestingly, last year also January 8th was recorded as the coldest day when the minimum plunged to 0.2 degrees Celsius (seven degrees below normal). According to a met official, this was the second lowest since temperature records started being maintained in the city over the past 70 years. For the next two days last year, the minimum hovered over 1 degrees Celsius.
On Monday, Delhiites shivered as the maximum temperature was recorded at 16.1 degrees Celsius (five degrees below normal). There was a fall of two degrees in the minimum as well as maximum temperatures compared to Sunday. Met officials said the entire north India is in the grip of a severe cold wave. On Monday, many regions saw the minimum temperature dipping sharply with Chandigarh recording 0.6 degrees Celsius, Amritsar minus 1 degrees Celsius and Adampur in Punjab being the lowest at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, met officials have predicted little respite over the next two days. "Entire north India is in the grip of a severe cold wave and the conditions will persist at least over the next two days. The minimum will hover around two degrees Celsius in the coming days. The nip in the air is a result of northwestern winds sweeping the northern belt," said a Safdarjung met official. The official added that from January 9 onwards, western disturbances are predicted to hit Jammu and Kashmir, which may further affect the temperatures here.

Meanwhile, air traffic at the international and domestic airport was normal on Monday as there was no fog. "It was a normal day at the airport. Visibility was above 2,000 metres and all flights took off at their scheduled time," said airport sources. They have, however, predicted fog for Monday night, or latest by Tuesday morning. Those travelling by air on Tuesday are advised to call up airlines and check flight timings before leaving for the airport.
The cold wave situation has been confirmed by foreign websites. However, they have predicted a fog spell over the weekend. According to BBC Weather, temperature in the Capital will remain low, while there can be a fog spell from Thursday onwards and the visibility will become very poor.

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