IS IT MAY OR DECEMBER IN DELHI: FOG IN DELHI WITH 15.8° CELSIUS TEMPERATURE
UPDATE
The National Capital of India has been experiencing unusual weather patterns, although most of its
residents did not anticipate a foggy morning in May. This is because May is typically the hottest
month of the year in the city, with an average temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius.
However, Delhi has been experiencing heavy rainfall since the beginning of the week, resulting in low visibility conditions and a minimum temperature of 15.8 degrees Celsius, which is the lowest recorded in May for at least 13 years. Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revealed that the
visibility in some areas dipped to as low as 100 meters. Furthermore, IMD reported that the
temperature in Delhi dropped to 15.8 degrees Celsius, which marks the coldest May morning in 41
years for the National Capital.
The temperature in Delhi dropped to 15.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning, which was nine
degrees below the normal minimum temperature. The lowest minimum temperature in May, apart
from this occurrence, was recorded in 1982 when May 2nd witnessed a slightly lower minimum
temperature of 15.2 degrees Celsius.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Safdarjung weather station, which provides representative figures for Delhi, recorded the lowest minimum temperature ever in May 1969 at 15.1 degrees Celsius. On Thursday, the Ridge Observatory near Delhi University recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the city at 14.2 degrees Celsius, which was 11 degrees below the normal minimum temperature.
SHOCKING CLIMATIC CHANGE IN DELHI
In Delhi, May is generally known to be the month with the highest average maximum temperature.
Data from 1991 to 2020 indicates that the average daily maximum temperature for May is 39.9
degrees Celsius, which is the highest for any month of the year. The average daily minimum
temperature during the same period is 25.8 degrees Celsius.
However, due to the impact of a western disturbance, along with rainfall and cloudy skies, both the maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi have been below normal. As of now, Delhi has received 45.7 mm of rainfall this May, which is significantly higher than the average monthly rainfall of approximately 30.7 mm.
STATEMENTS BY VARIOUS EMINENT PERSONALITIES
According to Kuldeep Srivastava, a scientist from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dense
fog was present for approximately two hours with an average visibility of around 200 meters at 7.30
am. He explained that the high moisture content and calm winds combined to cause this phenomenon.
Srivastava added that fog during this time of the year was unexpected, but it occurred due to the high moisture content in the air after the rain on Wednesday.
The almost calm winds during the night
allowed the gradual build-up of fog, which in turn affected the minimum temperature. Similarly, IMD
scientist R.K. Jenamani remarked that the presence of fog in May was not observed over the last 20
years. However, he acknowledged that it might have happened before, given that the minimum
temperature was low back in 1982.
The formation of fog is due to the condensation of water vapour when there is a combination of
moisture and low temperature. The decrease in temperature results in the condensation of water vapour,
which forms the fog as the cooler air holds less moisture than warm air.
According to another
meteorological official, the minimum temperature and the occurrence of dense fog have not been
observed in May for at least 41 years. It is possible that the last time fog occurred in May was several
years ago, as it is uncommon to see dense fog at this time of the year, which is caused by low
temperatures and calm winds.
NEWS: CENTRAL POLLUTION BOARD DAILY BULLETIN
Despite the emergence of sunlight on Thursday, Delhi’s maximum temperature remained below
average, recording 32.1°C compared to the normal mark of 39.3°C for this time of year. Weather
forecasts indicate that another western disturbance is approaching the region, with its effects likely to
be felt from Friday onwards, and the possibility of drizzle in some regions over the weekend.
However, the maximum temperature is expected to gradually increase and reach 37°C by May 10.
The minimum temperature in Delhi is expected to remain between 19 and 22°C. In the meantime, the
Central Pollution Control Board’s daily bulletin reports that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI)
deteriorated to 113 (moderate) on Thursday from 107 (moderate) on Wednesday. According to the
weather forecasts, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to remain in the “moderate” category until
Saturday, after which it is predicted to improve and reach the “satisfactory” category by Sunday.
