Capital Shivers as Delhi Records its Coldest November Day in Three Years
Delhi logs 9°C, its coldest November day in three years, as fog and very poor air persist.
Delhi shivered through its coldest November day in three years on Sunday, November 16, 2025, as the minimum temperature plummeted to 9 degrees Celsius—4.5 notches below the seasonal normal—at the Safdarjung observatory, the city's base station. This marked the lowest November reading since November 29, 2022, when the mercury dipped to 7.3 degrees Celsius, surpassing the 9.2 degrees recorded on November 23, 2023, and 9.5 degrees on November 29, 2024. The early onset of winter chill, driven by clear skies and calm winds following a western disturbance, caught residents off guard, prompting a surge in woollens and heaters across the capital.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast shallow fog for Monday, with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 25 degrees Celsius and the minimum remaining steady at 9 degrees. While daytime conditions will offer some relief under partly cloudy skies, the persistent cold wave signal—triggered by snowmelt winds from the Himalayas—has raised concerns about prolonged discomfort, especially for the elderly and homeless. Palam Observatory recorded an even chillier 8.2 degrees, while pockets like Ayanagar and Ridge dipped to 7.8 degrees, highlighting microclimatic variations across the sprawling metropolis.
Air quality, meanwhile, continued its downward spiral, remaining in the 'very poor' category with a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 377 as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Eleven of the 39 monitoring stations breached the 'severe' threshold with readings above 400, primarily driven by fine particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, exacerbated by low wind speeds and vehicular emissions. The toxic haze not only compounded respiratory woes amid the cold but also reduced visibility, with morning commuters reporting delayed flights and sluggish traffic on key arteries like the Delhi-Gurgaon Motorway.
Health experts have urged vulnerable groups to limit outdoor exposure, recommending masks and hydration to counter the dual assault of biting cold and polluted air. The Delhi government has activated emergency measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III, including bans on non-essential construction and enhanced mechanised road sweeping to curb dust. Schools have been advised to monitor student health, with some shifting to online classes for lower grades.
As the capital braces for a prolonged chilly spell—IMD predicts minimums to linger between 8 and 10 degrees for the next week—the unseasonal severity has sparked debates on climate variability, with scientists linking it to shifting weather patterns influenced by La Niña conditions in the Pacific. For now, Delhiites are bundling up, hoping for warmer days ahead while grappling with the familiar winter scourge of smog-choked skies.
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