The capital city of India, Delhi, along with its neighboring states, is experiencing an unusually harsh winter this year. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that this biting cold and dense fog will continue to affect the region until at least January 28. This prolonged cold wave is not only making daily life challenging but is also significantly impacting flight and train operations.

Latest weather Forecast

Delhi has recorded five cold days and an equal number of cold wave days in January, marking the highest in the last 13 years, according to IMD. The city witnessed a minimum temperature of 7.2 degrees Celsius, which is 2.8 degrees lower than the normal, at Safdarjung Observatory.

Dense Fog Impact

Visibility has been drastically reduced due to dense fog, with Safdarjung and Palam reporting visibilities of 50 meters and 25 meters, respectively. This has led to disruptions in various flight and train operations. The dense fog condition is not only confined to Delhi but also prevalent in Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and isolated parts of north Rajasthan.

Disruption of Flight Operations

Dense fog has severely affected flight operations. The Delhi Airport, facing the brunt of this weather, has turned chaotic with passengers experiencing long delays. Despite having CAT IIIB runways, designed for low visibility operations, disruptions have been significant. The airport has been proactive in issuing fog alerts and advising passengers to stay updated with their respective airlines.

Historical Perspective

This winter season has seen some of the worst fog-induced disruptions in recent years. Earlier in the month, visibility dropped to zero, causing even the CAT IIIB runway to shut down temporarily.

Rainfall and Temperature Trends

Delhi and its surrounding areas in the NCR experienced light rainfall, which is unusual for January. The IMD recorded ‘trace’ rainfall at the Safdarjung observatory. The minimum and maximum temperatures have been consistently below the season’s average, adding to the cold conditions.

Delhi Weather Forecast

The immediate forecast for Delhi suggests a continuation of the cold spell, with minimum temperatures hovering around 7 degrees Celsius and maximum temperatures reaching up to 19 degrees Celsius. The wind speed is expected to be around 1.83, with gusts up to 1.95. The seven-day forecast indicates a gradual rise in temperature but still remaining below normal for this time of the year.

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Also read: DELHI-NCR LIGHT RAINFALL AND PERSISTENT COLD WAVE IN NORTH INDIA UNTIL JANUARY 27

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