Mon Dec 09 05:14:00 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Braces for Cold Wave as Temperatures Plummet, Air Quality Remains Poor
**NEW DELHI —** Delhi and surrounding states are bracing for a cold wave this week, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting a significant temperature drop. The national capital, which experienced its coldest morning of the season on Saturday at 7.1 degrees Celsius, is expected to see minimum temperatures plunge to 6 degrees Celsius this week. Maximum temperatures will hover around 25 degrees Celsius.
Sunday saw Delhi’s second-lowest daytime temperature of the winter season so far, at 23.7 degrees Celsius. The IMD predicts cold wave conditions will also affect Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh until December 14. Adding to the winter chill, Shimla and nearby areas in Himachal Pradesh received their first snowfall of the season overnight.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remains a concern. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an AQI of 212 at 9 am today, classifying the air quality as “poor.” This level can cause respiratory discomfort, particularly for sensitive groups. The poor air quality is a recurring winter issue, attributed to cold air trapping pollutants, including smoke from stubble burning in neighboring states.
First Piper 