<p>The national capital on Monday recorded a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius, the highest since October 22, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).</p>.<p>IMD officials attributed the rise in the minimum temperature to the presence of clouds in the region under the influence of a western disturbance.</p>.<p>Until now, Delhi had been witnessing a trend of low minimum temperatures this month due to the absence of cloud cover.</p>.<p>Clouds trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation and radiate it back downward, warming the ground.</p>.<p>The maximum temperature is expected to settle at 26 degrees Celsius, the IMD said.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/cold-wave-delhis-minimum-temperature-drops-to-10-degrees-celsius-910662.html" target="_blank">Cold wave? Delhi's minimum temperature drops to 10 degrees Celsius</a></strong></p>.<p>The minimum temperature is likely to drop below 10 degrees Celsius by Friday, according to the IMD.</p>.<p>"As the western disturbance withdraws from the region, the wind direction will again change to northwesterly. Cold winds from hilly regions, which have received a fresh spell of snowfall, will start blowing towards the national capital," an IMD official said.</p>.<p>On Sunday, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, and a maximum temperature of 29.1 degrees Celsius.</p>.<p>The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, recorded 0.4 mm rainfall on Sunday.</p>.<p>The weather stations at Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge, Jafarpur, Najafgarh and Pusa recorded 1.8 mm, 0.3 mm, 1.2 mm, 1 mm, 1 mm and 2.5 mm rainfall respectively.</p>.<p>Fairly widespread rain was recorded in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and few parts of Uttar Pradesh, which should help improve the air quality, the IMD official said.</p>
<p>The national capital on Monday recorded a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius, the highest since October 22, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).</p>.<p>IMD officials attributed the rise in the minimum temperature to the presence of clouds in the region under the influence of a western disturbance.</p>.<p>Until now, Delhi had been witnessing a trend of low minimum temperatures this month due to the absence of cloud cover.</p>.<p>Clouds trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation and radiate it back downward, warming the ground.</p>.<p>The maximum temperature is expected to settle at 26 degrees Celsius, the IMD said.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/cold-wave-delhis-minimum-temperature-drops-to-10-degrees-celsius-910662.html" target="_blank">Cold wave? Delhi's minimum temperature drops to 10 degrees Celsius</a></strong></p>.<p>The minimum temperature is likely to drop below 10 degrees Celsius by Friday, according to the IMD.</p>.<p>"As the western disturbance withdraws from the region, the wind direction will again change to northwesterly. Cold winds from hilly regions, which have received a fresh spell of snowfall, will start blowing towards the national capital," an IMD official said.</p>.<p>On Sunday, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, and a maximum temperature of 29.1 degrees Celsius.</p>.<p>The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, recorded 0.4 mm rainfall on Sunday.</p>.<p>The weather stations at Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge, Jafarpur, Najafgarh and Pusa recorded 1.8 mm, 0.3 mm, 1.2 mm, 1 mm, 1 mm and 2.5 mm rainfall respectively.</p>.<p>Fairly widespread rain was recorded in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and few parts of Uttar Pradesh, which should help improve the air quality, the IMD official said.</p>