Wed Nov 13 10:39:21 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Shivers as Winter Delays its Arrival, Temperatures Remain Unseasonably High
Delhi is experiencing an unusually warm November, with temperatures defying the typical seasonal pattern. Daytime highs are still hovering above 30°C, a stark contrast to the usual 25-28°C range seen in previous years. Nighttime temperatures are also significantly higher, remaining between 16 and 18°C instead of the expected 10-15°C. This is the warmest November the city has seen in recent years, with even the lowest recorded temperature reaching 31°C, far higher than the 22°C recorded on the same day in 2023.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) attributes the delay in winter’s arrival to the absence of typical weather patterns, such as the strong northern winds and Western Disturbances that usually bring colder air to the region. These conditions haven’t fully set in yet, but IMD officials predict a shift in the trend around November 17, with temperatures expected to start dropping then.
The lack of snowfall in the Himalayas is another factor contributing to the delayed winter.
The unusual warmth is not a new phenomenon. Similar patterns were observed in 2011 and 2015, although in 2015, nighttime temperatures remained normal despite the high daytime temperatures.
For the next few days, the city will continue to experience warm temperatures, with maximums predicted to stay between 32 and 33°C. The predominant surface wind will be from the southwest, with speeds up to 8-10 kmph during the day. As the day progresses, the winds will decrease, becoming less than 8 kmph from the northwest at night, leading to the development of smog and mist in the evening and night.
This current warmth follows a record-breaking October, with the month recorded as the warmest in 73 years. The maximum and minimum temperatures in October 2024 were 35.1 and 21.2 degrees Celsius, respectively, just slightly lower than the record-breaking temperatures of 36.2 and 22.3 degrees Celsius observed in 1951.
First Piper 