Biting cold grips Delhi as minimum temperature dips below 4.1C at isolated places

Cold wave conditions prevailed at isolated places in the national capital on Sunday, with minimum temperatures falling below 4.1°C in some areas.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 4.8°C, 2.6°C above the seasonal average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, issuing a ‘yellow’ alert for cold wave.

According to the IMD, the cold wave is expected to continue on Monday.

A cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature drops by 4.5 to 6.5°C below the average temperature.

On Sunday, Safdarjung registered a low of 4.8°C, Palam 3°C (4.3 notches below the seasonal average), Lodhi Road 4.6°C (1.4 notches above normal), the Ridge 3.7°C (4.4 notches above normal), and Ayanagar 2.9°C (4.2 notches below normal), the IMD data showed.

Relative humidity in the city was logged at 97% at 8.30 a.m..

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 295, in the “poor” category, at 9 a.m., the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

The weather department has predicted a ‘yellow’ alert of cold wave for Sunday, with the maximum temperature expected to settle at 17°C.