Delhi Records Season's Lowest Temperature: Mercury Set To Rise On Weekend
Key Takeaways
- Delhi recorded the season’s lowest temperature at Safdarjung with 2.9°C, the lowest in three years.
- The city is on its fourth straight cold wave day, but relief is expected over the weekend.
- Western disturbance from 16 Jan may bring clouds and very light rain to Delhi on 18 Jan.
- Stronger system later may cause widespread rain in North India between 23–26 Jan.
Mercury plunged to the season’s lowest temperature in the national capital. Base station Safdarjung dipped further to record a minimum temperature of 2.9°C, the lowest of the last three years. Earlier, the observatory recorded a low of 1.4°C on 16 Dec 2023. Otherwise, the record repository for Delhi, Safdarjung, had registered temperatures under 2°C on three occasions in the last two decades, the lowest during this period being 1.1°C, clocked on 01 Jan 2021. The minimum temperature is unlikely to drop further and will, rather, rise during the approaching weekend between 16th and 18th January.
Most of the observatories in the Delhi area recorded similar readings, including the Meteorological Office at Lodhi Road. The department is celebrating its 151st Foundation Day today. The airport observatory Palam was the lowest in the region with a minimum of 2.3°C, also the lowest of the season so far. The capital city has gone through the 4th straight cold wave day of this season. The cold wave is likely to abate soon and the temperature will rise to 7°–8°C over the weekend.
A western disturbance is likely to approach the Western Himalayas tomorrow. This will induce a cyclonic circulation over North Rajasthan and Haryana on 17th Jan 2026. The circulation will move across the Delhi region and shift to Western Uttar Pradesh between 18th and 19th Jan 2026. The weather activity will be mostly confined to the hills, commencing 16th Jan. The tail of the system may sprinkle very light rainfall over and around Delhi on 18th Jan 2026. A layer of medium and high clouds will precede and cover most parts of Delhi, Haryana, North Rajasthan and West Uttar Pradesh on 16th and 18th Jan 2026.
In quick succession, another western disturbance, nearly overlapping with the previous one, will arrive over the mountains. This will be stronger than the earlier one and its secondary part over the plains will also be quite powerful. Snowfall activity will continue over the mid and higher reaches and become more intense in space and scale from 22nd onward. The season’s heaviest spell may continue past Republic Day, affecting the festivities. The plains of North India will also be within reach of the combined influence of circulation and the westerly system. A decent spread of winter rains is likely to cover Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh between 23rd and 26th Jan 2026. Weather model limitations restrict detailed prognostication, and the forecast needs to be updated over the weekend.
