PUNE: According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), in the month of December 2018, Delhi recorded the average minimum temperature of 6.7 degrees Celsius which was the third lowest in the last 50 years after 2005 and 1996. 

The IMD noted that the daily minimum temperature was below normal on 26 days for the month of December. The monthly mean temperature was below normal by 1.6 degrees Celsius. The lowest minimum temperature recorded was 2.6 degrees Celsius on December 29 which was the fourth lowest in the last 50 years after 2013, 1996 and 1973.  

Officials at IMD noted that the lowest minimum temperature ever recorded in Delhi is zero degree Celsius on December 27, 1930. There were 14 nights with minimum temperature was below six degrees Celsius and 8 nights when the minimum temperature was less than four degrees Celsius.

The average maximum temperature during the month was 23 degrees Celsius which was normal for the month. The IMD shared that the fog coverage data (measured in hours) at IGIA Palam shows that it was the clearest month in last 22 years in terms of visibility. Fog hours from shallow to very dense during the month of December were only 145 against normal of 300 hours.

WEATHER ON JANUARY 1, 2019
- The lowest minimum temperature recorded in the country was at 0.7 degree Celsius at Bhatinda in Punjab.
- The lowest minimum temperature recorded in Maharashtra was at 4.6 degrees Celsius at Ahmednagar. 
- Pune reported 7.6 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
Source: IMD