The capital is currently mired in an extreme cold wave after temperatures plunged to record lows on Monday morning. The Palam weather observatory also recorded a minimum temperature of 3.2°C on Monday, the coldest January morning in 13 years. The mercury in many spots in the city has stayed in the 2°C to 5°C range, to which the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has increased its alert to an Orange Alert for the following 48 hours.
Palam’s 13-Year Record Broken
This 3.2°C reading at Palam is the lowest since January 7, 2013, when the station measured 2.6°C. Meteorologists attributed this steep drop to icy northwesterly winds churning down from the snow-clad Himalayas. With Palam plunging sharply, Ayanagar became the coldest location in the city on Sunday night and Monday mornings, when the mercury hit a bone-chilling 2.9°C — almost 5 degrees below the seasonal average.
IMD Issues Orange Alert: What to Expect
For Monday and Tuesday, the IMD has upgraded its “Yellow Alert” to an Orange Alert (“Be Prepared”). The plains declare a "Cold Wave" when the minimum temperature is either 4°C or lower, or 4.5 degrees below the normal.
- Dense Fog: Visibility fell to below 50 meters at IGI Airport early Monday, with the result that 300 flights were delayed.
- Duration: Severe cold wave is expected to last until 14 January (Wednesday), with slight relief from Thursday.
- Health Advisory: The IMD has warned of “increased likelihood of various illnesses” such as flu and respiratory diseases as a result of prolonged exposure.
Schools and Travel Impact
The bad weather also affects daily life in the NCR. Noida and Greater Noida schools are to be closed for classes up to Grade 8 until January 15. In Delhi, some private schools have changed to online classes or pushed start times to 9:00 AM to shield students from the early morning cold. Rail transport and air transportation continue to be very disrupted as over 25 long distance trains arriving in Delhi can now be delayed as a result of the visibility constraints in Indo-Gangetic plains, according to Indian Railways.
