Why Delhi Saw An Unusually Warm Weather In The First Few Days Of November

New Delhi: Delhi experienced an unusually warm November till recent days, when the maximum temperature dropped slightly below normal. However, the first 12 days of the month recorded the highest average maximum temperatures since at least 2015. The average maximum temperature between November 1 and 12 this year was 32.6 degrees Celsius, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Only 2022 and 2016 saw average maximum temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius during the same period in the past decade.October had already set a record as the warmest in 73 years, IMD data shows. The primary cause of these elevated temperatures is the wind direction. As the monsoon recedes, Western and North-Western winds replace the South-Eastern and Eastern winds, contributing to higher temperatures.A senior IMD official explained that winds from the West and North-West, which typically help cool the region, were not predominant this year. It was only in the last few days that this wind pattern shifted, bringing a drop in temperatures, as per an Indian Express report.In the coming days, the maximum temperature is expected to fall between 29 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius, as cooler winds are now anticipated to dominate. This shift in wind direction also has an impact on air quality, as it brings more pollution into the city. While earlier winds from the South-East helped disperse pollution, the change in direction has led to a rise in Delhi’s air pollution levels, partly due to the transport of paddy stubble burning residue from neighbouring states like Punjab.