Fifth straight 'cold wave' day in Capital, minimum at 3.5°C

Delhi shivered through a fifth straight cold wave day on Tuesday, when a minimum temperature of 3.5°C and breezy winds kept the Capital in a frosty grip, even as the fog let up marginally, with fewer interruptions to flight and train operations than over the past two days.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

Still, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Wednesday and Thursday, warning of chilly temperatures and dense fog in some parts of the city.

Tuesday's minimum was four degrees below normal, and the fifth straight day it has been below 4°C. It was 3.3°C on Monday, 3.5°C on Sunday, 3.6°C on Saturday and 3.9°C on Friday.

The Capital's longest cold wave spell last year was also five days long, between January 5 and 9, showed IMD data.

Delhi's maximum temperature, meanwhile, was 17.4°C, two degrees below normal, and a drop from 19.7°C a day ago.

IMD officials said the cold wave is unlikely to relent for the next two days at least.