New Delhi,India’s capital experienced its coldest November night in three years on Tuesday, with the minimum temperature at Safdarjung observatory dropping to 8°C, 3.3°C below the seasonal average and marking a new low for the month since 2022.
The sharp decline, driven by persistent north-westerly winds carrying cold air from the Himalayas, has brought an early and pronounced onset of winter conditions to the National Capital Region. On 25 November 2022, the previous benchmark for November was set at 7.8°C; Tuesday’s reading now stands as the lowest since that date.
Meteorologists attribute the rapid cooling to clear skies and sustained influx of chilly winds from snow-covered higher altitudes. Over the past four days alone, the overnight temperature has fallen by nearly 4°C. Peripheral areas recorded even lower readings, with Aya Nagar logging 7.9°C — a departure of 5.1°C below normal.
Ashwini Tiwari, a senior scientist at the India Meteorological Department, noted that the cold north-westerlies intensified through Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning. “A feeble Western Disturbance is likely to approach the western Himalayas from 28 November,” he said. “While it will have limited impact on the plains, a marginal rise in night temperatures can be expected over the coming days.”
The early chill has prompted residents to bring out heavy woollens sooner than usual, with morning commuters visibly reaching for jackets and mufflers. Air quality, though still a concern, has temporarily benefited from stronger surface winds dispersing pollutants.
For Delhi, where winter typically peaks in January with minimums occasionally dipping below 4°C, the abrupt November cold snap serves as a reminder of the capital’s vulnerability to sudden shifts in continental weather systems. Forecasters indicate that while a brief moderation is likely by the weekend, the overall trajectory points toward a colder-than-average season ahead.
