Delhi’s minimum temperature dips to 4.3 deg C

Delhi’s minimum temperature dropped to 4.3 degrees Celsius on January 12, and is likely to dip further in the coming days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, recorded a minimum of 4.3 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, an IMD official said.

Delhi had been registering above normal minimum temperatures till January 11, as a cloud cover persisted over the city under the influence of successive Western Disturbances.

Delhi’s minimum had settled at 7 degrees on Monday, 7.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 10.8 degrees Celsius on Saturday, 9.6 degrees Celsius on Friday and 14.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the highest in January in four years, according to IMD.

The cloud cover over the national capital has prevented a steep decline in the minimum temperature so far, the IMD official said.

Clouds trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation and radiate it back downward, warming the ground.

However, the minimum temperature has started declining with the commencement of northwesterly winds from snow-capped mountains towards the plains starting on January 9, the official said.

The mercury is set to drop further. Moderate to dense fog is also predicted over the capital on January 14 and 15, the IMD official said.