Warmest Day in Delhi Since Dec 31; IMD Says Western Disturbance Likely to Bring Light Rain

The national capital experienced its warmest daytime since December 31 on Sunday as the maximum temperature went up to 18.8 degrees Celsius. This is because of the approaching western disturbance, which reduced the fog’s density and helped rays of sunlight touch the surface in the city.

Weather experts said that the western disturbance will help in reducing the chillness for the first half of this week.

While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Punjab, Haryana and parts of Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh for cold day conditions and dense fog.

TOP UPDATES

1. As many as twenty trains approaching Delhi were delayed due to weather-related issues as the minimum temperature in the national capital settled at 5.3 degrees Celsius, two notches below season’s average.
2. The IMD has forecast shallow fog for Monday with the maximum temperature likely to settle at 17 degrees Celsius.
3. The Chandigarh education department on Sunday issued a notice saying that there will be no physical classes for students upto Class 8 till January 13 due to the persistent cold weather conditions. The order also suggested that the schools may organise online classes for these students.
4. Delhi on Sunday finally experienced the first rays of sunshine that had been missing since the beginning of this year. “The upper level fog finally cleared out today, which is the major reason why Delhi experienced the first rays of sunlight in days. Upper-level fog usually does not let any sunlight penetrate, leading to gloomy cold day conditions. Delhi did not experience any cold day conditions on Sunday,” an IMD official noted.
5. Cold day conditions are likely to subside from majority of the north-western plains, but the coming of western disturbance may bring along some rain and thundershowers to Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan on Monday and Tuesday.
6. The national capital might witness slight drizzle on Tuesday. The weather department official said that it is probable that the western disturbance will cause partly cloudy skies on Monday and light rain on Tuesday. “The maximum is forecast to stay below 20 degrees throughout the week,” the official added.
7. IMD has also issued a yellow alert for Delhi due to dense fog, light rainfall and drop in temperature for the next few days.
8. Meanwhile, winter vacation in Delhi has been extended till January 10 in view of the cold weather conditions, officials of the Directorate of Education said on Sunday.
9. Weather experts, however, noted that the western disturbance almost always lead to the cold day conditions coming back. Skymet’s vice president, Mahesh Palawat was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying that following the light rain, “the Capital might experience some cold day conditions later this week”.
10. However, people let out a sigh of relief after getting some warmth from the sunlight. Experts noted that the after a chain of cold and severely cold days, this respite is dangerous for elderly people.
11. Officials from the weather department also noted that the partly cloudy sky will be there on Wednesday, with shallow to moderate fog in the early hours. “It might clear up by Thursday and skies will be mostly clear,” they added.
12. Noting that sunny days with clear skies also means lower temperature at night. The night or the minimum temperature are likely to go down to single digits.

(With PTI inputs)