December 2019 Might Just Become Delhi's Second Coldest In 100 Years

Come December, Delhiites get reminded of just how cold it can get. Almost every conversation starts with the usual statement, 'This time's the cold is worse than last year.'

And yes, that's absolutely right. We are in the middle of one of the coldest Decembers the national capital has experienced.

Twitter/Reuters

According to the weather department, as the mercury continues to dip steadily through Delhi and nearby areas, the region is expected to record its second-coldest December since 1901.

"The mean maximum temperature for December was less than 20 degrees Celsius only in 1919, 1929, 1961 and 1997," an official of the India Meteorological Department said. In December this year, the mean maximum temperature (MMT) till Thursday was 19.85 degrees Celsius. It is expected to dip to 19.15 degrees Celsius by December 31, he said.

PTI

"If it happens, it will be the second-coldest December since 1901. December 1997 recorded the lowest MMT of 17.3 degrees Celsius," the official said.

The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides official figures for Delhi, recorded the lowest maximum temperature of 12.2 degrees Celsius on December 18. The weather station at Palam recorded the lowest maximum of 11.4 degrees Celsius on December 25.

Since December 14, most parts of the city have witnessed 13 consecutive "cold days" or a 13-day "cold spell". The last time such a long cold spell was witnessed was in December 1997. After 1992, Delhi has had cold spells only in four years - 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2014.

A press release by IMD on Thursday said: ¡°The most severity [of cold/severe cold day conditions] was observed on December 25 when majority of stations in the region were recorded seven to 12 degrees C below normal with actual maximum temperature of the day varying between nine to 15 degrees Celsius.¡± The lowest day maximum temperature in the northern plains, 9¡ãC, was reported from Ganganagar and Chandigarh.

Reuters

The severe cold day conditions are likely to abate only around December 30, due to an approaching western disturbance and easterly winds.

¡°This could bring light rain over Delhi-NCR on December 31 night and on January 1,¡± a Met official said.

According to the IMD, a "cold day" is when the maximum temperature is at least 4.5 notches below normal. A "severe cold day" is when the maximum temperature is at least 6.5 degrees Celsius below normal.

All Inputs PTI