No January rains first time in 7 years; ‘unusual’, says IMD

Unusual weather patterns have marked Delhi’s January this year, as the national capital has yet to witness any rainfall, a departure from the norm based on IMD’s historical data.

Over the past seven years, January typically saw one to six days of rain, whereas the normal monthly rainfall at Safdarjung Observatory is 8.1 mm. However, with seven days left in the month, Delhi is yet to receive any rain.

In contrast, January 2022 witnessed 88.2 mm of rain, surpassing the normal 21.7 mm, highlighting the atypical conditions this year.

Despite the absence of rain, Delhi has experienced the highest number of cold day and cold wave conditions in January in the last 13 years.

The current weather conditions include cold day scenarios with dense morning and nighttime fog, as indicated by a minimum temperature of 6.9 degrees Celsius recorded on Tuesday.

On January 15, Delhi reached its lowest minimum temperature this winter at 3.3 degrees Celsius.

Delhi on Tuesday registered a minimum temperature of 6.9 degrees Celsius, slightly below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The national capital is currently under the grip of cold day conditions, with dense fog prevalent in both morning and nighttime, IMD said.

The IMD forecasts clear skies with the likelihood of moderate to dense fog persisting throughout the day.

Indian Railways reported delays of one to five hours for 28 trains bound for Delhi due to fog in various parts of northern India.

The foggy conditions also reduced the visibility in the region, which resulted in the delay and cancellation of flight operations from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).

(With PTI inputs)