The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that New Delhi has just had its chilliest January in 13 years. The average maximum temperature was around 17.7°C, the lowest it’s been since 2010. The minimum temperature averaged around 6.2°C, making it the second coldest in the last 13 years.
Delhi witnessed its coldest January in 13 years
On Wednesday, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 7.3°C, slightly below the season’s average. A yellow alert, indicating dense fog, has been issued for the national capital and will remain in effect until February 2. The forecast for Thursday includes a generally cloudy sky, moderate to dense fog, and very light rain.
IMD scientist Dr Kuldeep Srivastava says, "We expect heavy rain and snowfall in the mountain regions of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand due to the western disturbance. The disturbance will have an effect in plain areas like Haryana, Delhi NCR, and Uttar Pradesh. We have issued an Orange alert for today. We anticipate thunderstorms and lightning in Punjab and Haryana today. We expect light rain in Delhi NCR, and we predict thunderstorms and lightning today as well. We expect a thick layer of fog on February 2... We have issued a Yellow alert in Delhi NCR."
Sure, here is the data from your text in table format:
Year | Max Temperature (°C) | Min Temperature (°C) |
---|---|---|
2012 | 19.7 | 7.5 |
2013 | 19 | 6.1 |
2014 | 19.1 | 8.4 |
2015 | 17.9 | 8.5 |
2016 | 21.6 | 9.2 |
2017 | 21.1 | 8.7 |
2018 | 22.2 | 7 |
2019 | 21.2 | 6.9 |
2020 | 19.5 | 8 |
2021 | 19.2 | 7.2 |
2022 | 18 | 8.2 |
2023 | 19.7 | 6.6 |
2024* | 17.7 | 6.2 |
2018 coldest, 2021 hottest January
In any year, 2018 had the highest number of sub-13° Celsius days in January with 19 such days, followed by 2010 which held 18 such days. Recent years such as 2005, 2009, and 2021 have been the hottest January, each with only two days of sub-13° Celsius temperatures. In the last two decades, 2013 recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 9° Celsius.
The weather in Delhi has been fluctuating significantly. They considered January 2016 as the warmest in the past 13 years based on the minimum temperature, which averaged 9.2°C. The average minimum temperature had dropped to 6.6°C in 2023.
A lack of rainfall coincided with the cold spell, which is unusual for January. Thickening fog in the city also impaired visibility, marking it as one of the most severe instances in many years.
The weather in January is acting strange this year. The cold weather, without much rain, is unusual according to the weather experts. The fog is getting really thick, making it hard to see. This isn't normal and hasn't happened like this in a long time. These weird weather patterns show that things are changing. Experts say it's because of global warming and climate change, which are making the weather do strange things all around the world.
Keep Reading
- How retreat of Machoi glacier impacting lives in Kashmir?
- Hathiya Kheda: Four Villages In MP Waiting For Roads
- “Give Plastic, Take Gold” Initiative In Sadiwara Village Of Kashmir
Follow Ground Report for Environment and Under-Reported issues in India. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Koo App, Instagram, Whatsapp and YouTube. Write us on [email protected].