<p>Delhi's minimum temperature dropped to 6.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the lowest in the month of November since 2003, as a cold wave swept parts of the city. </p>.<p>The national capital had recorded a minimum of 7.5 degrees Celsius on Friday, the lowest in the month in 14 years, according to the India Meteorological Department.</p>.<p>"The Safdarjung Observatory which provides representative data for the city, recorded a minimum of 6.9 degrees Celsius. It is Delhi's lowest minimum temperature in the month since November 2003, when the city recorded a minimum of 6.1 degrees Celsius," said Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre. </p>.<p>The mercury dropped to 6.1 degrees Celsius at the Palam weather station, he said.</p>.<p>For the plains, the IMD declares a cold wave when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and is 4.5 notches less than normal for two consecutive days.</p>.<p>“However, for small areas such as Delhi, a cold wave can be declared if the criteria are fulfilled even for a day,” Srivastava said.</p>.<p>Delhi had recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius last year, 10.5 degrees Celsius in 2018 and 7.6 degrees Celsius in 2017 in the month of November.</p>.<p>The all-time record for the lowest minimum temperature in November is 3.9 degrees Celsius recorded on November 28, 1938.</p>.<p>Srivastava said icy cold winds blowing from snow-laden western Himalayas have led to a dip in the mercury.</p>.<p>However, the minimum temperature will rise by two to three degrees Celsius in the next four to five days under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance. </p>.<p>The minimum temperature this month, barring on November 16, has remained 2-3 degree Celsius below normal in the absence of a cloud cover, according to IMD officials.</p>.<p>Clouds trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation and radiate it back downward, warming the ground.</p>.<p>The month of October was the coldest in 58 years in the national capital. </p>.<p>The mean minimum temperature in October this year was 17.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1962, when it was 16.9 degrees Celsius.</p>
<p>Delhi's minimum temperature dropped to 6.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the lowest in the month of November since 2003, as a cold wave swept parts of the city. </p>.<p>The national capital had recorded a minimum of 7.5 degrees Celsius on Friday, the lowest in the month in 14 years, according to the India Meteorological Department.</p>.<p>"The Safdarjung Observatory which provides representative data for the city, recorded a minimum of 6.9 degrees Celsius. It is Delhi's lowest minimum temperature in the month since November 2003, when the city recorded a minimum of 6.1 degrees Celsius," said Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre. </p>.<p>The mercury dropped to 6.1 degrees Celsius at the Palam weather station, he said.</p>.<p>For the plains, the IMD declares a cold wave when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and is 4.5 notches less than normal for two consecutive days.</p>.<p>“However, for small areas such as Delhi, a cold wave can be declared if the criteria are fulfilled even for a day,” Srivastava said.</p>.<p>Delhi had recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius last year, 10.5 degrees Celsius in 2018 and 7.6 degrees Celsius in 2017 in the month of November.</p>.<p>The all-time record for the lowest minimum temperature in November is 3.9 degrees Celsius recorded on November 28, 1938.</p>.<p>Srivastava said icy cold winds blowing from snow-laden western Himalayas have led to a dip in the mercury.</p>.<p>However, the minimum temperature will rise by two to three degrees Celsius in the next four to five days under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance. </p>.<p>The minimum temperature this month, barring on November 16, has remained 2-3 degree Celsius below normal in the absence of a cloud cover, according to IMD officials.</p>.<p>Clouds trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation and radiate it back downward, warming the ground.</p>.<p>The month of October was the coldest in 58 years in the national capital. </p>.<p>The mean minimum temperature in October this year was 17.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1962, when it was 16.9 degrees Celsius.</p>