Mercury drops to 5.2 degrees in Delhi

MERCURY FALLING: Members of a family shield themselves against cold as they walk at India Gate in New Delhi. This winter has been terribly cold in the capital, minimum temperatures hovering well below 10 degrees celcius. Photo: PTI

It was a chilly start to Saturday at the national capital with the minimum temperature dropping to 5.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest so far this winter.

After a relatively warm Christmas day, the minimum temperature dipped three notches below average.

“The minimum temperature recorded today (Saturday) at 5.2 degrees Celsius was three degrees below the average for this time of the year,” an official of the India Meteorological Department told IANS.

The previous lowest had been 6.1 degrees Celsius early Thursday.

“There was shallow fog in the morning with visibility at 800 metres at 8 a.m.,” the official added.

The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 21.5 degrees Celsius, is two degrees below average.

“Temperature is likely to dip further in the coming days and fog is likely to increase,” the official said.