Delhi residents waiting for winter may have to wait a little longer as temperatures remain unusually high. Even though Diwali is over and November is just around the corner, the temperatures are yet to drop. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that temperatures in Delhi will remain abnormally high in the first half of November.
October has been recorded as the hottest month in 74 years, and November appears to be following a similar trend. Maximum temperatures are expected to remain above 30°C until November 21, around 4-6°C above average for this time of year.
Why doesn’t the temperature drop?
During the winter, cooler temperatures in Delhi are usually caused by a “western disturbance” – a weather system that brings rainfall and causes temperatures to drop in northern India.
However, no active western disturbances have reached Delhi or the northern plains since the end of the monsoon.
This resulted in about 80% less rainfall than usual and higher than normal temperatures in the region.
Will it rain in Delhi in the coming weeks?
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has ruled out the possibility of rainfall in Delhi for the next two weeks.
While a Western Disturbance is likely to occur between November 16 and 21, it looks weak and unlikely to affect Delhi or bring precipitation to areas beyond the upper Himalayas.
The role of El Niño and La Niña
Typically, El Niño causes global warming, while La Niña has a cooling effect.
El Niño is expected to recede this winter and be replaced by La Niña, potentially leading to colder weather.
However, the IMD report said that El Niño is currently in a neutral state and has not completely subsided. La Niña is expected to occur between November and December, but it is uncertain how long it will last or what impact it will have on Delhi’s winter as forecasts from weather models vary.
For now, Delhi residents will have to keep waiting for the winter chill to set in as mid-November temperatures remain above average.
