The national capital woke up to a chilling start on Saturday, with the mercury plunging to 11°C, about 3.3 degrees below normal and noticeably colder than the previous day’s 12.7 °C.
Weather officials say
the drop in temperature is driven by clear skies and strong north-westerly winds streaming down from the Himalayas. These conditions allow heat to escape quickly after sunset, leading to colder nights.
Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) suggest the minimum temperature may dip further in the coming days, with Monday hovering between 9 °C and 11 °C. The daytime temperature is expected to stay around 27-29 °C before dropping later.
Meanwhile, the region’s air quality is deteriorating. On Saturday, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 361 (in the “very poor” category), up from 322 a day earlier. Forecasts indicate the poor air quality is likely to persist through Tuesday.
New Delhi residents are bundling up early this season as the city braces for an early winter bite, and the drop is likely to be accompanied by worsening air-quality conditions.
