Dense fog shrouds Delhi; mercury dips to season’s lowest

New Delhi: Dense fog over Delhi reduced visibility to just 50 metres, as the minimum temperature in the city dipped to 3.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the season’s lowest so far, the India Meteorological Department said.

It is also the third consecutive “cold wave” day in the city, said Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD’s regional forecasting centre.

New Delhi: People cover themselves with blankets during a cold winter morning, in New Delhi, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)

The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, recorded a minimum of 3.3 degrees Celsius, the lowest this season so far.

“Cold day” conditions are likely as the maximum temperature is predicted to settle below 16 degrees Celsius, Srivastava said.

New Delhi: A man covers himself with a blanket during a cold winter morning, in New Delhi, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)

The Lodhi Road weather station registered a minimum of 3.1 degrees Celsius.

Delhi recorded a minimum of 3.4 degrees Celsius on December 20. At 15.2 degrees Celsius, it recorded the season’s lowest maximum temperature on December 18.

Srivastava said “dense” fog accumulated over Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan and west Uttar Pradesh, lowering visibility to 50 metres at many places.

Visibility levels at Safdarjung and Palam dropped to 100 metres and 50 metres, respectively, due to dense fog, he said.

New Delhi: People sit near a bonfire to warm themselves during a cold winter morning, in New Delhi, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)