Delhi and other areas of north India felt a sudden increase in temperature on Tuesday, making the atmosphere feel warmer than usual in February. However, this does not mean that winter has suddenly ended.
What caused the sudden warmth?
As per a report by India Today, experts explain that the sudden increase in temperature is associated with the Western Disturbance that is currently being experienced in the Himalayan region. The Western Disturbance has temporarily reduced the strength of the cold winds from the north that keep the winter temperatures under control in the northern plains.
A Western Disturbance generally moves from the Mediterranean region towards the Himalayan range, causing rain and snowfall in the higher reaches. As the Western Disturbance reaches the Himalayas, it can temporarily disrupt the flow of cold and dry winds that move from the northern part of Pakistan and the Himalayan range to the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
âThese cold winds usually move across Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, helping maintain cooler conditions during winter. However, the current Western Disturbance has acted like a temporary barrier, preventing these cold winds from reaching the plainsâ, India Today quoted Devendra Tripathi, the founder of Mausam Tak, as saying.
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Another reason for the warmer atmosphere in Delhi is the clear skies. The previous instances of dry winds from the north had already cleared the lower atmosphere of dust, fog, haze, and pollution particles. With clear skies and only light patchy clouds, the sun's rays are directly reaching the surface of the earth, causing the temperature to rise.
Cooler air likely to return
As per the report, weather experts also indicated that this spell of heat will not be prolonged. This is because, as the Western Disturbance moves eastward, it carries rain and snowfall in the Himalayas, followed by fair weather, as the Western Disturbance leaves room for the cold northern winds to return. It is expected that these northern winds will penetrate Delhi-NCR later tonight, reducing the temperatures a notch on February 11, despite clear skies during the day.
Temperature outlook for the coming days
The India Meteorological Department reported a minimum of 11 degrees on Monday, with daytime temperatures staying around 26 degrees. Mornings will probably continue to be misty over the next few days, with no cause for concern as there are no weather warnings issued.
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According to forecasts, the temperature ranges from 23°C to 26°C by day and from 11°C to 12°C at night. This weather condition is expected to prevail until February 15.
Air quality remains a concern
While the temperature increases with the rise in mercury, air quality in some areas of the city remains to be of poor quality. Areas such as Anand Vihar, Chandni Chowk, IIT Delhi, ITO, and RK Puram have reported air quality in the range of poor to very poor.
