Delhi experienced its warmest Republic Day in eight years on Sunday, with the maximum temperature reaching 23.7°C, two degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The last time the capital recorded a higher temperature on January 26 was in 2017, when it reached 26.1°C.
Over the years, temperatures in Delhi on Republic Day have fluctuated significantly. The long-period average maximum temperature for the day, recorded since 1991, is 22.1°C. However, in recent years, the temperature has often been lower, including 2024’s 20.6°C, 2023’s 17.3°C, and 2022’s 16.4°C.
IMD officials attributed the above-normal temperatures to clear skies and dry northwesterly winds. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Skymet, explained that despite a western disturbance bringing rain and snow to parts of northwest India, Delhi’s temperature remained relatively unaffected due to the bright sunshine during the day.
However, the clear skies and dry winds also led to a slight dip in night temperatures. On Sunday, Delhi’s minimum temperature was recorded at 7.2°C, which was a notch below normal. It was also slightly lower than the 8.6°C recorded on Saturday and 9.8°C on Friday.
A fresh western disturbance is expected to impact the region starting January 28, which could result in a rise in both the maximum and minimum temperatures. The disturbance is expected to alter wind patterns, reduce wind speeds, and bring cloud cover, which will trap heat at night, causing a rise in night temperatures.
The IMD forecasts that the minimum temperature could climb to between 9-11°C by the weekend, while the maximum temperature is expected to remain between 24-26°C.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated on Saturday, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) entered the ‘poor’ category from ‘moderate.’ According to the Early Warning System for Delhi, the AQI levels are expected to remain in the ‘poor’ category on January 27 and 28, and worsen further to the ‘very poor’ category by January 29.
An AQI reading between 0 and 50 is classified as ‘good,’ 51 to 100 as ‘satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 as ‘moderate,’ 201 to 300 as ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 as ‘very poor,’ and 401 to 500 as ‘severe.’
Sources By Agencies