Delhi Experiences Warmest November in Half a Decade, Cool Spell Anticipated Next Week
As climate patterns continue to evolve, November in Delhi has marked a record high in temperatures over the past five years, presenting both higher daytime and nighttime temperatures.
Data sourced from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates that the fall in Delhi’s temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius has been delayed the most since December 2019. The city’s average minimum temperature for November stood at 14.9 degrees Celsius, approximately 2 degrees above the long-term average (LPA) of 13 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, the average peak temperature recorded was 29.5 degrees Celsius, surpassing the LPA by 1.1 degrees, thus marking it as the warmest November seen since 2019.
The notable decline in temperatures began around November 25, when it dropped to 14 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, there was a drop to 11.9 degrees on November 26, 10.4 degrees on November 27, and then a further decrease to 10.1 degrees on November 28, finally dipping below the 10-degree mark for the first time this season by Friday.
Experts from the IMD note that while this dip is typical for late November, the prior warmer conditions have largely been due to insufficient precipitation and snowfall.
A weather phenomenon, known as a western disturbance, is set to affect northwest India, causing an expected minor rise in nighttime temperatures by 1-2 degrees Celsius over the weekend. However, forecasts suggest a subsequent dip is likely early next week as snowfall is predicted in the northern mountainous regions.
This pattern of increased warmth is not new to 2023. The preceding month, October, had already indicated a warmer trend, recording the highest temperatures since 1951. Across both day and night, temperatures were approximately 2 degrees Celsius above the average.
Records show that October’s average monthly maximum and minimum temperatures were 35.1 degrees Celsius and 21.2 degrees Celsius, reaching heights not seen since October 1951, when temperatures reached 36.2 degrees Celsius and 22.3 degrees Celsius respectively.
In a noteworthy shift, the temperatures on Friday fell beneath 10 degrees Celsius for the initial time this winter at Safdarjung, noted as the standard site for Delhi’s weather observations. A low of 9.5 degrees Celsius was observed, which is slightly below the typical minimum temperature.
In the coming days, the IMD forecasts that Delhi might experience shallow fog conditions on Saturday. The maximum temperature is anticipated to be near 26 degrees Celsius with a minimum around 10 degrees Celsius, signaling the advent of cooler days ahead.
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