Delhi records coldest Republic Day in five years
Officials said clear skies and persistent icy northwesterly winds over the weekend led to the sharp drop in minimum temperatures.
Delhi shivered through its coldest Republic Day in five years on Monday, as mercury dipped to a chilling 3.6°C in parts of the city and isolated coldwave conditions spread across the capital. The rare dip in temperature broke a relatively mild start to the month, with last year’s cold wave in January marking the previous low of 2.1°C in 2021. For Delhi residents, the day combined patriotic celebration with the stark bite of winter air, reminding the city of the harsher extremes of the season.
Officials attributed the sharp fall in temperatures to clear skies over the weekend and persistent icy northwesterly winds sweeping across the region. While the early morning brought freezing cold, the day saw a slight moderation in wind speed as a western disturbance approached the plains. Meteorologists expect this system to bring a modest rise in temperatures and light rainfall to Delhi on Tuesday, offering some relief from the intense chill.
The cold, however, was accompanied by a deterioration in air quality, snapping a rare two-day streak of “moderate” air in the capital. The Central Pollution Control Board reported that Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 241 at 4 pm on Monday, categorizing it as “poor,” a significant jump from Sunday’s reading of 153, which had been the city’s lowest AQI for January in four years. Residents felt the effects directly, with many struggling with smoggy skies and a heavier atmosphere that made the morning commute feel even colder.
Weather officials said that the upcoming western disturbance might help improve air quality temporarily. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi-NCR for Tuesday, forecasting one to two spells of light rain across the city. Gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour are also expected, which can help disperse accumulated pollutants and provide some respite from the “poor” AQI levels.
The IMD’s national bulletin highlighted the intensity of the weather system approaching northern India. The disturbance is also likely to trigger light to moderate rainfall at some places over the adjoining plains of northwest India, along with isolated thunderstorms or hailstorms. Wind speeds in these conditions are expected to reach 40–50 kilometers per hour, with gusts potentially hitting 60 kilometers per hour.
Beyond the immediate relief, the western disturbance is anticipated to bring fresh snowfall to higher Himalayan regions, creating a scenic winter landscape while providing much-needed water reserves for the region. For Delhiites, the weather system could mean a brief shift from the biting cold to a slightly milder and wetter day, though gusty winds might make it feel colder in the open, especially during morning and evening commutes.
The combination of cold temperatures, gusty winds, and poor air quality underscored the challenges of living in a megacity during winter, where climate and pollution intersect to affect daily life. Residents were advised to take precautions against the cold, particularly children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues. Masks, warm clothing, and staying indoors during the peak pollution hours were recommended as temporary measures to cope with the harsh conditions.
Despite the chill, the city’s Republic Day celebrations went on, with parades and public events taking place amid the cold. Yet, the weather served as a reminder of Delhi’s vulnerability to winter extremes and air pollution, highlighting the dual challenges of climate and environment that the city faces each year. As temperatures are expected to rise slightly with the arrival of the western disturbance, the capital looks forward to a brief respite from the cold, though officials cautioned that winter is far from over and residents should continue to stay prepared.