Delhi gets its coldest September in 18 years at 21°C

Delhi experienced its coolest September in 18 years on Sunday, with the minimum temperature plummeting to 21 degrees Celsius, according to the Times of India. This marked a three-degree drop below normal and brought an early winter-like atmosphere to the capital. The cool conditions were a result of northerly and north-easterly winds combined with heavy rainfall in neighboring states.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that this was the second-lowest minimum temperature in September since 2001, with the lowest being 20.8 degrees Celsius in 2008. Ridge recorded a minimum of 16.8 degrees Celsius, while Palam and Ayanagar saw temperatures of 19.2 and 21.2 degrees Celsius, respectively. The dip in temperature was more pronounced compared to Saturday, when Delhi's minimum temperature was 23.2 degrees Celsius and its maximum was 30.6 degrees Celsius.

The unusually cool spell was attributed to a deep depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal, which affected a vast area with intense rainfall, causing minimum temperature departures to be as much as four degrees below normal. However, the cool spell may not last, as the IMD expects conditions to become drier as the southwest monsoon withdraws, leading to an increase in both minimum and maximum temperatures in Delhi over the coming days.