December 2019 set to be Delhi’s 2nd coldest in over 100 years

The Delhi-NCR, region is expected to record its second-coldest December since 1901, the weather department said on Thursday.The mean maximum temperature for December was less than 20 degrees Celsius only in 1919, 1929, 1961 and 1997," an official of the India Meteorological Department said. In December this year, the mean maximum temperature (MMT) till Thursday was 19.85 degrees Celsius. It is expected to dip to 19.15 degrees Celsius by December 31, he said. 

"If it happens, it will be the second-coldest December since 1901. December 1997 recorded the lowest MMT of 17.3 degrees Celsius," the official said.After 1992, Delhi has had cold spells only in four years - 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2014."Severe cold day/cold day" conditions are predicted till December 29.A relief is expected next week due to a change in the wind direction.According to the IMD, a "cold day" is when the maximum temperature is at least 4.5 notches below normal.A "severe cold day" is when the maximum temperature is at least 6.5 degrees Celsius below.