Chilly winds on Sunday signaled the onset of cold wave conditions in the state capital, with the mercury dropping to 11 degrees Celsius — about 3.3 degrees below normal. Forecasts indicate that the minimum temperatures will drop further in the coming days. In its latest bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said night temperatures in several parts of Delhi were 2°C to 4°C below normal.
According to meteorologists, the drop in temperatures is due to clear skies and cold northwesterly winds blowing from the Himalayas. These conditions allow heat to escape quickly after sunset, leading to cooler nights.
“The cooling is due to the effect of northwesterly winds coming from the mountains. The impact is expected to continue in the capital for at least the next four to five days,” Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Skymet Weather, told Hindustan Times.
According to the IMD forecast, the minimum temperature is likely to hover between 9°C and 11°C on Monday, while the maximum temperature will remain around 27°C to 29°C till Tuesday before dropping further.
A cold wave is likely in northwest and central India
The IMD has also predicted a significant drop in temperatures over parts of northwest and central India, with cold wave conditions expected to prevail over eastern Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh between November 8 and 10.
Night temperatures are currently 4-7°C below normal over East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, South Punjab and South Haryana, while the plains of Northwest India along with East Madhya Pradesh and North Madhya Maharashtra are witnessing a dip of 2-4°C below normal.
The meteorological agency added that these sub-normal temperatures are likely to persist in northwest and adjoining central India for the next six to seven days.
Besides, the IMD has predicted a drop of 2°C in minimum temperatures in the next two days across Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh, after which no significant change is expected. East India is also likely to see a dip of 2-4°C over the next four days before temperatures stabilize.
