Delhi Shivers: Capital Gripped by Coldest January Morning in 13 Years

Well, if you woke up in Delhi this Wednesday morning and felt a distinct shiver, you weren't imagining things. The capital just experienced its chilliest January morning in a whopping thirteen years, and honestly, it felt every bit of it! The mercury at Safdarjung, our official weather station, plummeted to a bone-chilling 3.0 degrees Celsius. To put that in perspective, that’s a full five degrees below what we’d usually expect for this time of year.

It's quite a moment, really, as we haven't seen a January day quite this cold since way back on January 8, 2011, when it dipped even further to 2.2 degrees. And while Safdarjung was nippy, some areas were even colder – think Ridge recording a truly frosty 2.2°C, and Lodhi Road not far behind at 2.8°C. For many, that meant extra layers, huddling indoors with a hot chai, and maybe a little less enthusiasm for that early morning commute.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been keeping a close eye on things, and their forecast isn't exactly warming up our spirits. We’re bracing for "cold day" conditions to persist for a few more days, coupled with some rather dense fog. In fact, a proper "cold wave" is expected to sweep through by Thursday. Now, for us laypeople, a "cold day" basically means the maximum temperature is significantly below average and pretty chilly overall (under 10°C), while a "cold wave" implies those minimum temperatures are really plunging, several degrees below the norm.

Beyond just the temperature, there's also the ongoing concern of air quality. Amidst this biting cold, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was sitting uncomfortably in the "very poor" category, hitting 358 by 9 AM. It's a dual challenge, isn't it? Battling the icy air while also worrying about what you're breathing in. Spare a thought too for the city's homeless population, for whom these extreme conditions pose a dire threat.

So, as Delhi wraps itself in a thick blanket of winter, it’s a stark reminder of the city's complex relationship with its seasons – beautiful at times, but undeniably harsh when the cold truly bites. Stay warm, folks, and keep an eye on those weather updates!