'No more shivering': Why Delhi, North India experiencing warmer days

January chills usually force you to remain in heavy quilts for as long as possible, however, this January has experienced a little warmer temperature than usual. Delhi’s minimum temperature was recorded at 9.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.  

The temperature was 1.8 degrees more than usual at this time of the season. "This morning the minimum temperature of Delhi was around 12 degrees Celcius because there is a strong western disturbance coming and southerly winds have reached Delhi," said Dr Soma Sen Roy, India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist.  

"In north India, temperature will rise by 1-2 degrees Celcius though in Delhi there won't be any chance of further temperature rise. After two days, from 24th (January) morning, the temperature might fall slowly because western disturbance will move," said Dr Roy. 

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), North Indian regions like Punjab, Haryana, Western UP, Delhi-NCR, and North Rajasthan may witness rain on Wednesday and Thursday, January 23. However, eastern regions like Bihar, Jharkhand, Bengal, Odisha along with UP will experience dense fog in the coming days as well.  

The changes in weather did not affect the quality of air in Delhi which continued to remain in the 'poor' category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was at 262 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. 

The maximum temperature in Delhi is forecasted to be 24 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor" and 401 and 500 severe.