Delhi freezes at 3.2°C as cold wave intensifies; IMD forecasts 4°C minimum on Tuesday

Delhi reeled under a harsh cold wave on Monday as temperatures dipped further, making it the coldest January day in the city since 2023. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast similar conditions for Tuesday, with dense fog likely at isolated places during morning hours.

The Safdarjung observatory, the city’s base weather station, recorded a minimum temperature of 3.2°C, which is 4.2 degrees below normal for this time of year. The maximum temperature settled at 20.6°C. In comparison, Delhi had recorded a minimum of 1.4°C on January 11, 2023, the lowest in recent years.

Several parts of the city reported sharp dips in night temperatures. Palam registered 3.3°C, Lodhi Road 3.0°C, Ridge 4.2°C, and Ayanagar 3.2°C, all significantly below the seasonal average. According to IMD officials, this is the first cold wave spell of the current winter season in the national capital.

How cold will it get on Tuesday?

The IMD has predicted:

• minimum temperature around 4°C
• maximum temperature around 20°C
• mainly clear sky
• moderate fog at many places, dense fog at isolated pockets
• Cold weather worsens air quality

Delhi Air Quality

While the city battled the chill, air quality remained a concern. Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 297, in the ‘poor’ category. Over 20 monitoring stations reported ‘very poor’ air quality levels by evening.

The Air Quality and Weather Services division has warned that Delhi’s AQI is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ range over the next few days, with no major improvement expected until wind speeds pick up.