Delhi’s temperature plunges below 20°C as Dussehra brings winter chill

Delhi on Saturday experienced a significant drop in temperatures as the city prepares for the winter season. All weather stations in the national capital, except one, recorded minimum temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius, a clear indication of the changing seasons.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi’s primary weather station, registered a minimum temperature of 18.6 degrees Celsius, marking its first sub-20 degrees Celsius reading of the season. This is 2.4 notches below the normal temperature for this time of year, according to the weather department.
The Ridge recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 16 degrees Celsius, a significant 6.1 degrees below normal. Lodi Road recorded 18.4 degrees Celsius, which is 1.6 degrees below normal. Ayanagar’s minimum temperature stood at 18.5 degrees, which was also 2.4 degrees lower than normal levels.
While Palam recorded a slightly higher minimum temperature of 20.7 degrees, it was still 0.8 degrees Celsius below normal. The drop in temperatures across all weather stations signals the onset of cooler nights, transitioning Delhi into the next phase of the year.
Meanwhile, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city stood at around 160, in the ‘moderate’ category, which is likely to plummet as winter arrives.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), India is likely to witness a severe winter season this year due to the onset of the La Nina phenomenon. Under normal conditions, trade winds blow westward along the equator, moving warm water from South America toward Asia. This process allows cooler, deeper ocean waters to rise, helping to sustain climatic equilibrium. However, the arrival of La Nina disturbs this balance, triggering extreme weather conditions.