Why Is Delhi Seeing Delayed Winter? After Warmest October Since 1901, City Awaits For Some 'Dilli Ki Sardi'

Delhi: The Delhi-NCR residents are left wondering when the winter chill will finally set in. Despite a slight drop in temperature recently and chilly mornings and nights, the much-anticipated cold weather remains absent, leading to a rise in air pollution levels. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the unusually warm weather is expected to continue, with no signs of a cold wave in sight.

Warmest October Since 1901India recently experienced its warmest October in over a century, with the mean temperature reaching 26.92 degrees Celsius, as per a Business Today report. This is significantly higher than the normal average of 25.69 degrees Celsius, making it the warmest October since records began in 1901. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra revealed, "The minimum temperature also clocked 21.85 degrees Celsius against the normal of 20.01 degrees Celsius for the country as a whole." He added that the unusually warm October can be attributed to the absence of western disturbances and the influence of easterly winds from active low-pressure systems in the Bay of Bengal. Delayed Winter Onset ExpectedTypically, winter in Delhi begins in late November or early December and lasts until early March. However, this year, the winter chill seems to be delayed. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra explained, “In north-western India, north-westerly winds are needed for lower temperatures. The monsoonal flow was also there that does not allow fall in temperature.” The delay in colder weather is also being attributed to neutral El Niño conditions currently prevailing in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. La Nina Could Bring a Cold WinterDespite the warm start to November, there is still hope for a cold winter, thanks to the potential development of La Nina conditions. The IMD hinted at the possibility of a severe winter in northern India, particularly in the northwest and central regions, including Delhi-NCR, if La Nina sets in by December. "ENSO (El Nino–Southern Oscillation) conditions are slowly evolving towards the negative side and La Nina can set in by December," Mohapatra said, adding that global weather agencies had misjudged the El Niño forecasts this year.La Nina, which is characterised by the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, often leads to colder-than-normal temperatures in northern India, particularly in the northwest. This can result in cold waves and a drop in temperatures during the winter months. Warmer November Predicted Across IndiaThe IMD has predicted that November will continue to be warmer than usual, with no clear signs of the upcoming winter just yet. The weather office only considers January and February as the true winter months, with hints of cold weather typically emerging in December. However, temperatures in north-western India are expected to stay elevated for the next few weeks, further delaying the onset of winter. Meanwhile, the southern regions of India are set to receive above-normal rainfall in November, thanks to the northeast monsoon. States like Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala are likely to experience wetter conditions, while northwest India and some parts of central India may see below-normal rainfall.