Mercury likely to drop in Delhi from November 17

Unusually warm November in Delhi, mercury likely to drop from Nov 17 Delhi is currently experiencing unusually warm temperatures for November, with typical winter-triggering weather patterns yet to take shape, though weather officials expect temperatures to start falling around November 17.

As mid-November approaches, both daytime and nighttime temperatures in Delhi remain well above seasonal averages. Daytime highs are still exceeding 30°C, while nighttime lows range between 16 and 18°C—a significant difference from previous years when November nights would usually cool to between 10 and 15°C.

Historical data from 2011 to 2023 shows that November temperatures typically decrease, with daytime highs between 25 and 28°C and nighttime lows around 10 to 15°C. This year, however, daytime highs have not dropped below 30°C, with the lowest recorded so far being 31°C.

On November 11 last year, the daytime temperature dropped to 22°C, but this year it reached an unusually high 32.4°C on the same date.

A similar pattern was observed in 2011 and 2015, though in 2015, while daytime temperatures were around 30°C, nighttime temperatures remained normal at 15°C.

An official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the specific seasonal patterns of winds and temperature drops that signal winter’s onset have not yet aligned. “The northern wind flow and Western Disturbances, which usually bring colder air, are not fully established. However, we anticipate a shift around the 17th, leading to a temperature decline,” he explained.

Also Read: Delhi’s vanishing urban trees: The overlooked solution to the city’s pollution crisis

Delhi’s winter is typically marked by Western Disturbances, which bring rainfall and colder temperatures across northern India. However, the lack of these systems, combined with minimal snowfall in the Himalayas, has delayed winter’s arrival this year.

Currently, Delhi’s maximum and minimum temperatures range between 30-32°C and 14-19°C, respectively.

Over the next two to three days, surface winds will primarily come from the southwest, with speeds up to 8-10 kmph during the day. These speeds are expected to drop at night, with winds shifting to the northwest at less than 8 kmph, bringing smog and mist in the evenings and nights.

Daytime highs are forecasted to remain elevated, between 32 and 33°C, at least through November 14.

Data also shows October 2023 was recorded as the warmest October in 73 years, with October 2024 temperatures reaching 35.1°C (maximum) and 21.2°C (minimum), while in 1951, these temperatures were 36.2°C and 22.3°C, respectively.