Delhi records 14.2°C maximum, lowest December day temperature since 2019

(AP Photo)

• Delhi records coldest December day since 2019 with max temp at 14.2°C
• Air quality remains 'Very Poor', AQI at 373; dense fog reduces visibility
• IMD forecasts light rain and cold day conditions, yellow alert issued

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Cold day conditions prevailed in Delhi on Wednesday, as the city recorded its lowest daytime temperature for December since 2019, despite air quality remaining in the ‘Very Poor’ category, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD stated that the maximum temperature reached 14.2 degrees Celsius, which is around 6.2 degrees below the seasonal average. The minimum temperature was recorded at 6.4 degrees Celsius, marginally below normal.

IMD data showed that the last time Delhi recorded a lower maximum temperature in December was on December 31, 2019, when the day temperature had dropped to 9.4 degrees Celsius.

The weather agency issued a yellow alert for the national capital, forecasting light to very light rain on Thursday along with cold day conditions at isolated places. Moderate fog is likely at many locations, while dense fog may occur at isolated places during the morning hours.

“There is a slight chance of very light and isolated rain over Delhi-NCR between tonight and New Year’s Day due to an induced cyclonic circulation over Punjab and Haryana. If it occurs, this could be the season’s first spell of rain,” Mahesh Palawat of Skymet told PTI.

He added that coldwave conditions could develop from January 3, as minimum temperatures may fall below 5 degrees Celsius with cold northerly winds from the Himalayan region moving towards Delhi.

Meanwhile, air quality across Delhi-NCR continued to be poor. Delhi’s AQI stood at 373 on Wednesday, slightly lower than 388 recorded a day earlier. Gurgaon recorded an AQI of 328, up from 294 on Tuesday, while Noida’s AQI improved marginally to 382 from 400. All readings remained in the ‘Very Poor’ category.

According to the IITM’s Air Quality and Weather Bulletin for Delhi, the AQI is likely to remain ‘Very Poor’ from December 31 to January 3, with similar conditions expected over the following six days.

Dense fog also reduced visibility across several parts of the city. IMD data showed that Safdarjung recorded the lowest visibility of 50 metres between 6.30 am and 7.30 am, which improved to 100 metres by 8 am. At Palam, visibility dropped to 50 metres between 4 am and 7.30 am, before improving to 150 metres by 8 am.