The capital is likely to have a colder than usual winter this year, according to scientists from the Indian Meteorological Department who cited a Pacific Ocean weather phenomenon known as La Niña, which cascades into global climate in the months. of winter.
During La Niña, temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean drop below normal levels, triggering wind patterns can influence weather in distant regions. This has been linked to colder winters than usual in northwestern India.
“Both the maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to remain around 2-2.5 ° C below normal throughout the season. Also, since winter is approaching early with already low temperatures, the minimum is likely to drop to 5-6 ° C starting December 10. This usually happens after December 20, ”said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD’s regional weather forecast center (RWFC).
He added that daytime temperatures, or highs, will begin to fall in early December.
Local factors have also contributed to the colder days. Delhi has had a clean streak, with only one western riot so far bringing in some moisture. “When there are no clouds, the ground cools faster and minimum temperatures stay low,” he explained.
On Friday, Delhi recorded a low temperature of 7.5 ° C, five levels below normal and the lowest temperature in November in 14 years. On Saturday it rose slightly to settle at 8.5 ° C, while the maximum was 24.6 ° C.
In the immediate days, Srivastava said the minimum is expected to drop further to 7 ° C on Sunday before a western unrest on November 23 briefly triggers a slight rise. Once that happens, the days and nights will get colder again.
“When global conditions like La Niña prevail, there is a tendency for the regions under northwestern India to cool down,” said VK Soni of IMD’s environmental monitoring research center.
Soni added that currently the fall in mercury is accompanied by strong winds that help remove pollutants, but after November 23, the wind speed is likely to slow down and cause deterioration in air quality.
On Saturday, the average wind speed was around 16-17 km / h, and the air was in the poor zone with a 24-hour average air quality index at 4 p.m. of 251.
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