Chennai: After pollution, the country’s capital is now hit by cold wave. Delhi’s minimum temperature dropped to 6.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the lowest in the month of November since 2003, as a cold wave swept parts of the city.
According to the India Meteorological Department, Delhi had recorded a minimum of 7.5 degrees Celsius on Friday, the lowest in the month in 14 years.
Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD’s regional forecasting centre, said, “The Safdarjung Observatory which provides representative data for the city, recorded a minimum of 6.9 degrees Celsius. It is Delhi’s lowest minimum temperature in the month since November 2003, when the city recorded a minimum of 6.1 degrees Celsius.”
The mercury dropped to 6.1 degrees Celsius at the Palam weather station, he added.
For the plains, the IMD declares a cold wave when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and is 4.5 notches less than normal for two consecutive days.
However, for small areas such as Delhi, a cold wave can be declared if the criteria is fulfilled even for a day, Srivastava said.