It has also recorded over 50 hours of severe fog this month, the most since 2019.
Digital Desk: The meteorological department predicts that the cold wave will return to many parts of Delhi-NCR between Monday and Wednesday. The minimum temperature should be around 3 degrees Celsius.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Delhi saw a severe cold wave stretch from January 5 to January 9, the second longest in the month in a decade.
It has also recorded over 50 hours of severe fog this month, the most since 2019.
During the next five days, dense to very dense fog is expected in several areas of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh during the night and morning hours.
Minimum temperatures are expected to fall by about 2 degrees Celsius over many parts of northwest and central India until January 17-18, according to the weather bureau, and cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely over many parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, and Delhi during this period.
The weather service has encouraged people to dress in layers of loose-fitting, warm-season clothing and to protect their head, neck, hands, and toes. It has also recommended people to keep heaters ventilated to avoid inhaling hazardous fumes and to avoid or minimise outdoor activities.
An IMD official said that large regions of north and northwest India experienced below-normal maximum and minimum temperatures on most days this month until a western disturbance offered respite.
According to the IMD, minimum temperatures will progressively rise by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius from January 18 to January 20 due to a western disturbance.
When a western disturbance, defined by warm moist winds from the Middle East, enters a location, the wind direction shifts. The chilly northwesterly winds from the mountains cease to blow, causing temperatures to rise.
A cold wave is declared in the plains when the minimum temperature drops to 4 degrees Celsius or when it is 10 degrees Celsius and 4.5 notches below normal.
A severe cold wave occurs when the minimum temperature falls below 2 degrees Celsius or the deviation from normal limits exceeds 6.4 notches.
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