In a chilling turn of events, Delhi Records Coldest Morning of the season, with the mercury dipping to a bone-chilling 3.9 degrees Celsius. The city found itself shrouded in a dense blanket of fog, leading to significant disruptions in road, rail, and air traffic. The impact of this extreme cold snap has not only affected daily life but has also prompted authorities to issue alerts and advisories for the affected regions.
The Temperature Plunge
As the city slumbered in the early hours, the temperature plummeted to 3.9 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest minimum temperature recorded this winter season. The blanket of dense fog not only pushed visibility to zero but also brought about a red alert for Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana for the following day. The frigid embrace of this cold wave left its mark on various facets of life in the region.
Transportation Disruptions
The bone-chilling cold morning wreaked havoc on transportation systems, causing delays and disruptions across the board. Twenty-three Delhi-bound trains were delay by one to six hours, grappling with weather-related conditions not just in Delhi but in different states, according to railway reports. The dense fog acted as a silent disruptor, significantly impacting road and rail travel.
Air travel, too, faced its set of challenges as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported zero visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport due to “very dense fog conditions.” Despite the adverse conditions, flight operations were not majorly impacted. However, authorities at the Delhi airport issued an advisory, urging passengers to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight information before making their way to the airport.
Navigating the Foggy Skies
The challenge posed by the dense fog did not go unnoticed in the aviation sector. The implementation of “Low Visibility Procedures” at Delhi Airport was a testament to the severity of the foggy conditions. These procedures, often employed in adverse weather conditions, aim to ensure the safety of flight operations. While landing and takeoffs continued, flights that were not equipped with CAT III or Category III — an instrument landing system (ILS) that enables aircraft to operate in low visibility conditions — faced potential disruptions.
Passengers were advised to stay informed about their flight status, with authorities emphasizing, “Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information.” This careful coordination ensured that inconvenience to travelers was minimized, despite the challenging weather conditions.
#WATCH | Cold wave conditions continue in Delhi, thick layer of fog engulfs national capital
(Visuals from Geeta Colony Road and Vikas Marg, shot at 6:40 am) pic.twitter.com/VgCcz2boco
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2024
Red Alert and Advisory
Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana found themselves under a red alert, a response to the severe cold conditions gripping the region. An orange alert was also issued, extending into the coming days until January 14 (Sunday). The implications of such alerts are broad, encompassing various aspects of daily life, from transportation to health precautions.
Shivering in the Cold
Delhiites shivered as the city experienced Delhi Records Coldest Morning, and the blanket of dense fog reduced visibility to zero meters. Such weather conditions can be challenging not just for commuters but for the general populace going about their daily routines. The plummeting temperatures from a “cold day” to a “severe cold day” marked a significant departure from the usual winter patterns.
Impact Beyond Delhi
The cold wave didn’t spare the neighboring regions, with Punjab and Haryana also feeling the brunt of the frigid temperatures. The Railways reported delays in 23 Delhi-bound trains, adding an extra layer of inconvenience for commuters. As the cold wave tightened its grip on northern India, the sun, while making a brief appearance, couldn’t dispel the biting winds that kept temperatures down.
Weather Office Predictions
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) painted a challenging picture. With dense to very dense fog conditions predicted in several parts of north India. This meteorological phenomenon was expect to persist for a few hours in the morning in parts of Punjab. Isolated pockets in Haryana and Chandigarh between January 12 and January 16.
Similar conditions were anticipat in parts of East Uttar Pradesh and isolated pockets over West Uttar Pradesh on January 12 and 13. With dense fog forecasted for the subsequent three days. The weather department also highlighted the possibility of dense fog in isolated pockets of Gangetic West Bengal. Odisha. And Jammu division on January 12. And over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and north Madhya Pradesh on January 12 and 13. The forecast extended to Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura between January 12 and 16.
The Persistence of the Cold Snap
The Met department indicated that the cold day to severe cold day conditions would persist in some parts of Punjab. Haryana. And Chandigarh on January 11 and 12. Isolated pockets of Punjab were also expect to experience these conditions between January 13 and 15. Uttarakhand was likely to witness cold day conditions in isolated pockets till January 12. Ground frost conditions were predict in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan on January 12 and 13.
Looking Ahead
While Delhi Records Coldest Morning and the challenges it brings, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The IMD forecasts a fresh western disturbance likely to affect the Western Himalayan Region from January 16. This disturbance is expect to bring light rainfall and snowfall to isolated places in Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh on January 12 and 13. Another spell of precipitation is predict in these areas on January 16 and 17.
As Delhi residents bundle up against the biting cold and transportation systems adjust to the challenging conditions. The city braces itself for the persistence of the winter chill. The coldest morning serves as a reminder that winter in the northern plains is not to be taken lightly. And each day brings new challenges as residents navigate through the dense fog and frigid temperatures.