Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, forecasting light rain in the early hours of Monday due to a fresh western disturbance. The system is expected to bring snowfall to mountainous regions, leading to a noticeable drop in temperatures across Delhi-NCR from January 8.
Weather and Air Quality Forecast
•Rainfall and Cold Winds:
•Light rain is predicted for Delhi on Monday, accompanied by cloudy skies and an increase in wind speeds.
•Cold northwesterly winds are expected to lower both maximum and minimum temperatures in the coming days.
•Temperature Dip:
•The maximum temperature is expected to drop to 16°C by January 8, with the minimum temperature likely to touch 7°C by January 9.
•This change will make both days and nights considerably cooler.
•Fog Conditions:
•On Sunday, “very dense” fog reduced visibility to zero at Palam between 4 am and 7:30 am, while Safdarjung recorded 50-metre visibility around 5:30 am.
•IMD forecasts moderate fog across most parts of the city on Monday, with dense fog in isolated areas.
Air Quality Improvements Expected
Delhi’s air quality, which has remained in the “very poor” category for the past four days, is expected to improve to the “poor” range by Tuesday, aided by rainfall and stronger winds.
•AQI Trends:
•On Sunday, Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 339 (“very poor”), slightly better than 378 recorded on Saturday.
•AQI is forecasted to stay above 300 on Monday but is likely to dip below 300 by Tuesday.
Temperature Highlights
•Current Temperatures:
•Sunday’s maximum temperature: 18.6°C (less than a degree below normal).
•Minimum temperature: 9.4°C (three degrees above normal).
•Upcoming Trends:
•Cold northwesterly winds will cause a sharp dip in temperatures starting January 8, bringing chilly days and nights.
The combination of rain, cold winds, and foggy mornings is expected to mark the start of another frigid spell in the national capital this week.
