Mumbai Experiences Coldest December In 9 Years; Shimla Receives First Snowfall This Season| Weather Wrap

Let's take a look at the weather updates from key cities and states across the country today:

Delhi gets back to poor AQI with a chilly morning

The national capital woke up to a cold start on Monday, with the minimum temperature recorded at 8.2°C, which is 1.2°C below the usual seasonal average. Delhi also experienced light rainfall in some parts on Sunday evening. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted a maximum temperature of 23°C for the day, following Sunday’s cool daytime high of 23.7°C — the second-lowest so far this winter.

The air quality remains a concern, as Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) is still in the 'poor' category, with a reading of 212.

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Himachal Pradesh receives first snowfall of the season

Himachal Pradesh has witnessed its first snowfall of the season in Shimla, Kufri, and Fagu, while higher-altitude areas in Lahaul and Spiti continue to experience intermittent snowfall. The snow in these regions has led to slippery roads, affecting travel. The minimum temperature in the state dropped significantly, with places like Tabo recording a low of -13.1°C.

Shimla, the state capital, saw a minimum of 2.5°C, while other hill stations, including Manali and Kalpa, recorded temperatures near freezing point. The IMD has predicted more snow and rain in the Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, and Kinnaur districts, with lighter precipitation expected in other parts of the state.

The weather will remain cold over the next few days, with temperatures set to fall by 3-4°C. The IMD has also issued a yellow warning for dense fog in areas around Bilaspur and Mandi.

Mumbai experiences the coldest December morning in nine years

Mumbai recorded its coldest December morning in nearly a decade on Monday, with temperatures plummeting to 13.7°C at the Santacruz observatory, 5.1°C below normal. This sharp temperature drop comes just days after Mumbai experienced its hottest December day in 13 years, with temperatures reaching 37.3°C on December 4.

The Colaba observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 19.2°C, and the maximum temperatures for both Santacruz and Colaba remained slightly below normal, with Santacruz hitting 32.2°C and Colaba reaching 30.3°C. Meteorologists expect temperatures to remain low for the next few days before gradually rising.

Light showers in parts of Jharkhand

Parts of Jharkhand, including Ranchi, have been experiencing intermittent light showers since Monday morning. The change in weather is attributed to a western disturbance and moisture from the Bay of Bengal. As a result, Ranchi’s minimum temperature has risen to 14.5°C, which is 3.7°C above normal. Other cities like Bokaro recorded the coldest temperature in the state at 10.1°C, while Jamshedpur saw a minimum of 15.6°C.

The weather is expected to clear up by Tuesday, with temperatures set to drop by 4-5°C over the next few days. 

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Intense cold wave and snow in higher reaches of J&K

The cold wave in Jammu and Kashmir has intensified, with temperatures plummeting across the valley. Gulmarg, which saw fresh snowfall on Sunday, recorded the lowest temperature at -9.0°C. Other areas like Pahalgam and Srinagar also recorded sub-zero temperatures.

The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has predicted cold, dry conditions across Jammu and Kashmir until December 18, with isolated snow showers expected in the higher altitudes on December 12. 

The region is bracing for the harshest part of winter, which typically begins around December 21.