Is winter over? Why Delhi suddenly feels so warm today
When the sky is clear, sunlight reaches the ground more directly and warms the surface more efficiently, leading to a noticeable increase in daytime temperatures.
Residents of Delhi and parts of north India may have noticed a brief rise in temperatures, making the weather feel warmer than usual for February on Monday.
According to weather experts, this change is linked to a Western Disturbance affecting the Himalayan region, which has temporarily reduced the flow of cold northern winds that normally keep temperatures low in winter.
A Western Disturbance is a weather system that travels from the Mediterranean region toward the Himalayas, often bringing rain and snowfall to northern mountains. When such a system reaches the Himalayas, it can disrupt the movement of cold, dry winds that typically flow from northern Pakistan and the Himalayan region toward the plains of north India.
"These cold winds usually move across Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, helping maintain cooler conditions during winter. However, the current Western Disturbance has acted like a temporary barrier, preventing these cold winds from reaching the plains," Devendra Tripathi, founder of Mausam Tak, told IndiaToday.in.
As a result, the cooling effect of northern winds has weakened, allowing temperatures in Delhi to rise slightly.
Another factor contributing to the warmer feel is the unusually clear atmosphere over the region. Earlier spells of dry northern winds had already cleared dust, pollution particles, fog, and haze from the lower atmosphere, leaving the sky mostly clear with only light, patchy clouds.
When the sky is clear, sunlight reaches the ground more directly and warms the surface more efficiently, leading to a noticeable increase in daytime temperatures. Experts also note that gradually rising global temperatures can amplify this warming effect.
This warmer spell, however, is expected to be short-lived.
Weather experts say that as the Western Disturbance moves further east after bringing rain and snowfall to the Himalayan region, the flow of cold northern winds will resume. These winds are expected to begin returning to parts of north India late at night, particularly in Delhi and Punjab.
By February 11, people in the national capital region are likely to feel cooler conditions again, even though the sky may remain mostly clear.
Such short-term temperature fluctuations are common during the late winter transition period, when weather systems moving across northern India can briefly interrupt cold-air flow before winter conditions return.
For now, the sudden warmth in Delhi points to how regional wind patterns and mountain weather systems can quickly influence temperatures across the northern plains.
Residents of Delhi and parts of north India may have noticed a brief rise in temperatures, making the weather feel warmer than usual for February on Monday.
According to weather experts, this change is linked to a Western Disturbance affecting the Himalayan region, which has temporarily reduced the flow of cold northern winds that normally keep temperatures low in winter.
A Western Disturbance is a weather system that travels from the Mediterranean region toward the Himalayas, often bringing rain and snowfall to northern mountains. When such a system reaches the Himalayas, it can disrupt the movement of cold, dry winds that typically flow from northern Pakistan and the Himalayan region toward the plains of north India.
"These cold winds usually move across Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, helping maintain cooler conditions during winter. However, the current Western Disturbance has acted like a temporary barrier, preventing these cold winds from reaching the plains," Devendra Tripathi, founder of Mausam Tak, told IndiaToday.in.
As a result, the cooling effect of northern winds has weakened, allowing temperatures in Delhi to rise slightly.
Another factor contributing to the warmer feel is the unusually clear atmosphere over the region. Earlier spells of dry northern winds had already cleared dust, pollution particles, fog, and haze from the lower atmosphere, leaving the sky mostly clear with only light, patchy clouds.
When the sky is clear, sunlight reaches the ground more directly and warms the surface more efficiently, leading to a noticeable increase in daytime temperatures. Experts also note that gradually rising global temperatures can amplify this warming effect.
This warmer spell, however, is expected to be short-lived.
Weather experts say that as the Western Disturbance moves further east after bringing rain and snowfall to the Himalayan region, the flow of cold northern winds will resume. These winds are expected to begin returning to parts of north India late at night, particularly in Delhi and Punjab.
By February 11, people in the national capital region are likely to feel cooler conditions again, even though the sky may remain mostly clear.
Such short-term temperature fluctuations are common during the late winter transition period, when weather systems moving across northern India can briefly interrupt cold-air flow before winter conditions return.
For now, the sudden warmth in Delhi points to how regional wind patterns and mountain weather systems can quickly influence temperatures across the northern plains.