Delhi Shivers as October Temperature Plunges to 75-Year Low
Delhi residents woke up to an unseasonably crisp atmosphere on Friday as a persistent cold spell gripped the national capital. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 20.7 degrees Celsius, marking its coldest October day in 75 years. As dark, heavy clouds loomed over the city and intermittent rain continued throughout the day, citizens were prompted to bring out their winter gear much earlier than typical seasonal patterns suggest.
A Historic Meteorological Shift
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Safdarjung observatory—which serves as the primary weather station for the capital—recorded a maximum temperature 10.3 degrees below the seasonal average. This reading is the lowest maximum temperature documented for the month of October since 1951. Similar trends were observed across the region, with stations at Palam, Lodhi Road, the Ridge, and Ayanagar all reporting temperatures significantly lower than normal.
The dip in temperature was accompanied by substantial rainfall. In the 24 hours leading up to Friday morning, the capital received 61.4 mm of rain, securing its status as the wettest October day in four years. With total cumulative rainfall for the month reaching 123.3 mm, October 2024 has become the fourth-wettest October since 1954, far exceeding the monthly norm of 15.1 mm.
Cleanest Air Quality in Years
The rainy conditions and prevailing wind patterns brought a welcome, albeit temporary, reprieve from the capital’s usual pollution woes. Friday saw the Air Quality Index (AQI) settle at 60, marking the cleanest October air the city has experienced since October 10, 2022.
Out of the 54 monitoring stations across Delhi, the majority reported either ‘good’ or ‘satisfactory’ air quality levels. Experts attribute this clarity to the washout effect caused by the heavy rains and improved ventilation. However, this relief is expected to be short-lived. The Air Quality Early Warning System indicates that while air quality may remain in the ‘moderate’ category on Saturday, a transition to ‘poor’ and eventually ‘very poor’ is anticipated by November 1, as meteorological conditions become less favorable for pollutant dispersion.
Looking Ahead
The IMD has forecast generally cloudy skies accompanied by light rain or drizzle for the immediate future. While Friday’s maximum temperature plummeted to near 20 degrees, the forecast for Saturday suggests a slight recovery, with temperatures expected to hover around 24 degrees Celsius for the high and 16 degrees Celsius for the low.
Authorities remain watchful as the capital transitions into the winter months. With the contribution of the transport sector to the city’s pollution load nearing 18 percent and farm fires beginning to appear in neighboring states like Punjab and Rajasthan, the focus will soon shift back to managing the expected decline in air quality as wind speeds drop and winter conditions settle in across North India.
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