It’s that time of year when Delhi seems to occupy every newspaper’s front page and become the hot topic for every media channel’s prime-time updates. No, it has nothing to do with the country’s political developments or a strike or protest. It’s all because of the freezing winter that is making life miserable for all the Delhiites.
It was back in November when one of our professors said that in January, you could be anywhere in the world but not in Delhi. Now I know why. Along with immense joy, the year 2023 brought teeth-chattering winters in Delhi. As a result, the weather here has refused to go above 15 degrees Celsius, with the lowest temperature being as low as 3 degrees Celsius (in places like the Safdarjung Area).
However, it’s not the first time that Delhi has experienced such chilly weather. The northern part of India is known to have extreme weather conditions; in summer, one sweats like a pig, and in winter, one freezes like a statue. While many people are having a hard time because of the extreme winters, it is worth wondering why Delhi experiences such harsh winters compared to other states in India. Here’s what the meteorologists say:
The conditions are such that Delhi’s temperature drops faster than that of many hill stations like Nainital, Shimla, Darjeeling, etc. Though it’s difficult for many people to survive this harsh weather, some love the fact that Delhi is providing them with the joy of a hill station without even visiting one. However, there is one thing that a hill station can offer that Delhi cannot. It’s SNOW!
Unfortunately (or fortunately enough), Delhi can never experience snowfall. The recently viral AI-generated pictures that have been circulating online show various places in Delhi, like Chandni Chowk and India Gate, covered by heaps of snow. This has made the locals of Delhi imagine a day when the pictures will become a reality. But according to climate experts, Delhi can never experience snow showers due to multiple reasons.
Firstly, Delhi is a dry city, and its location does not permit the downpour of snow. The city experiences temperatures that are apt for freezing but not for snow. Secondly, for snow to fall, clouds need to form. But in Delhi, clouds trap heat rather than creating an atmosphere for snowing. Moreover, another reason could be that Delhi, unlike other northern states like Kashmir, is not surrounded by any high mountains. High mountains make the temperature cooler and slow down the rate of evaporation. And in areas that experience extreme freezing conditions, less evaporation would lead to more moisture and, thus, more snow. Hence, Delhi doesn’t experience the appropriate weather for a snow shower.
So, while there is no scientific possibility of snowfall in Delhi anytime soon, you can still enjoy the cold weather of Delhi with your trendy winter outfits and your favorite hot beverage and enjoy the feeling of being in a hill station even without traveling.