This winter, Delhi is colder than several European cities — including Rome, Athens, Madrid, Paris and Berlin. Compared to European countries, the temperature in the Indian Capital this year has witnessed a major dip. Sunday’s maximum temperature — 11 degrees Celsius — is the lowest maximum in the last two decades. In 1991, the lowest maximum temperature was recorded at 10 degrees Celsius.
Leaving European countries behind, the minimum temperature in Delhi was on Sunday recorded at 5 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, while the maximum temperature was 10 degrees below normal for this time of the year. In both Rome and Athens, the day’s minimum temperature was 7 degrees Celsius and the maximum 16 degrees Celsius.
In Madrid, the minimum temperature was 8 degrees Celsius and the maximum 11 degrees Celsius. Similarly, in Paris and Berlin, the minimum temperature was recorded at 5 and 7 degrees Celsius respectively, and the maximum temperature at 7 degrees Celsius.
On Sunday, Dehradun in Uttarakhand recorded a minimum at 4 degrees Celsius, while the maximum was 19 degrees Celsius, 8 degrees more than in Delhi. Mercury dropped by a few notches in mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh as icy winds swept the region and affected normal life. Shimla, the ‘Queen of Hills’, recorded a minimum of 2 degrees Celsius and maximum of 14 degrees Celsius, which was 3 degrees more than Delhi’s maximum. Ludhiana on Sunday recorded the minimum and maximum of 4 and 14 degrees Celsius respectively. High-altitude areas in Srinagar received light snowfall over the past two days, much to the delight of winter sports lovers.
Meanwhile, dense fog covered the national Capital on Sunday morning and reduced visibility, forcing the citizens to remain confined to their homes. “People are experiencing more cold than the actual temperature because of the wind chill factor. The wind is decreasing the body temperature, resulting in people experiencing more chill,” a Met department official said. The sun was nowhere to be seen the entire day, which began on a foggy note. On early Sunday, the visibility was reduced to below 100 metres. The situation slightly improved after 8 am, when the visibility rose to around 200 metres. It was a sunless Sunday as sunrays were not seen even for a short period which left Delhiites struggling with icy winds.
It could be a similar story on Monday with the Met department predicting no respite for citizens as icy winds are expected to blow across the city throughout the day, which 11oC: Max temperature offers minimum comfortwill open with fog. “Mist/shallow visibility in the morning and chilly winds will remain during the day,” weather officials have predicted for Monday.
Thick layer of fog, which existed over the city throughout the day, also affected air and rail traffic. A total of 45 flights were delayed, seven flights were diverted and two flights cancelled. A railway official said 70 trains were delayed and nine cancelled during the day.
The combination of chilly winds and envelope of thick fog played spoilsport, restraining Delhiites from moving out of their homes on a holiday. Only those who could not avoid it moved out of their homes. Radhika Sharma, an IT professional, said, “We just get one holiday in a week and I was looking forward to go out with my family. But because of low visibility, we were forced to cancel our plans. If we plan an outing, it is no use as we won’t be able to enjoy with such icy winds blowing outside.”
Rahul Singh, an MBA student, said, “I have my exams from next week. It is too cold. I prefer to sit at home because I do not want to fall sick before the exams. Even the chilly winds are not allowing us move out.”
On Saturday, the maximum temperature had dropped to the second-lowest maximum this season, 12.4 degrees Celsius, 9 degrees below normal, while the minimum stood at 4.3 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature on Sunday marginally improved to 5 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees below normal, from Saturday’s 4.3 degrees. But it did not provide much relief as the winds added to the chill.
This is the coldest weekend this season, a senior Met official said, adding, “People are experiencing more cold than the actual temperature because of the wind chill factor. The wind is decreasing the body temperature resulting in people experiencing more chill.”
Leaving European countries behind, the minimum temperature in Delhi was on Sunday recorded at 5 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, while the maximum temperature was 10 degrees below normal for this time of the year. In both Rome and Athens, the day’s minimum temperature was 7 degrees Celsius and the maximum 16 degrees Celsius.
In Madrid, the minimum temperature was 8 degrees Celsius and the maximum 11 degrees Celsius. Similarly, in Paris and Berlin, the minimum temperature was recorded at 5 and 7 degrees Celsius respectively, and the maximum temperature at 7 degrees Celsius.
On Sunday, Dehradun in Uttarakhand recorded a minimum at 4 degrees Celsius, while the maximum was 19 degrees Celsius, 8 degrees more than in Delhi. Mercury dropped by a few notches in mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh as icy winds swept the region and affected normal life. Shimla, the ‘Queen of Hills’, recorded a minimum of 2 degrees Celsius and maximum of 14 degrees Celsius, which was 3 degrees more than Delhi’s maximum. Ludhiana on Sunday recorded the minimum and maximum of 4 and 14 degrees Celsius respectively. High-altitude areas in Srinagar received light snowfall over the past two days, much to the delight of winter sports lovers.
Meanwhile, dense fog covered the national Capital on Sunday morning and reduced visibility, forcing the citizens to remain confined to their homes. “People are experiencing more cold than the actual temperature because of the wind chill factor. The wind is decreasing the body temperature, resulting in people experiencing more chill,” a Met department official said. The sun was nowhere to be seen the entire day, which began on a foggy note. On early Sunday, the visibility was reduced to below 100 metres. The situation slightly improved after 8 am, when the visibility rose to around 200 metres. It was a sunless Sunday as sunrays were not seen even for a short period which left Delhiites struggling with icy winds.
It could be a similar story on Monday with the Met department predicting no respite for citizens as icy winds are expected to blow across the city throughout the day, which 11oC: Max temperature offers minimum comfortwill open with fog. “Mist/shallow visibility in the morning and chilly winds will remain during the day,” weather officials have predicted for Monday.
Thick layer of fog, which existed over the city throughout the day, also affected air and rail traffic. A total of 45 flights were delayed, seven flights were diverted and two flights cancelled. A railway official said 70 trains were delayed and nine cancelled during the day.
The combination of chilly winds and envelope of thick fog played spoilsport, restraining Delhiites from moving out of their homes on a holiday. Only those who could not avoid it moved out of their homes. Radhika Sharma, an IT professional, said, “We just get one holiday in a week and I was looking forward to go out with my family. But because of low visibility, we were forced to cancel our plans. If we plan an outing, it is no use as we won’t be able to enjoy with such icy winds blowing outside.”
Rahul Singh, an MBA student, said, “I have my exams from next week. It is too cold. I prefer to sit at home because I do not want to fall sick before the exams. Even the chilly winds are not allowing us move out.”
On Saturday, the maximum temperature had dropped to the second-lowest maximum this season, 12.4 degrees Celsius, 9 degrees below normal, while the minimum stood at 4.3 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature on Sunday marginally improved to 5 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees below normal, from Saturday’s 4.3 degrees. But it did not provide much relief as the winds added to the chill.
This is the coldest weekend this season, a senior Met official said, adding, “People are experiencing more cold than the actual temperature because of the wind chill factor. The wind is decreasing the body temperature resulting in people experiencing more chill.”
No comments:
Post a Comment