Not a chilly affair! Delhi witnesses 'hot winter' this season

New Delhi: By this time of the year, Delhiites are usually seen shivering relentlessly and cursing the cold weather. But this time, thick woolen coats are still in the wardrobes and people are wondering why!

The Capital experienced its warmest December in four years in 2015. Delhi’s maximum and minimum temperature on December 29, 2015 was 24 – 9 degree Celsius respectively. Also this year, Delhiites woke up on Friday to the warmest New Year's day witnessed in the city in 10 years, with the maximum temperature zooming to 24.1 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal. January is expected to follow in the hot-weather pattern, say Indian Meteorological Department officials.

Not just in Delhi, many parts of India are experiencing a warmer winter this season.

According to officials, three key weather phenomena are responsible for warmer days in winter this year:

• 2015 El-Nino that made the year warmest on record, is responsible for a warmer winter this season
• Presence of an anti-cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan continues to bring in dry and warm winds from the west.
• Absence of stronger Western Disturbances has led to marginally less intense snowfall over the hilly parts of North India, and as a result, lesser number of rainy spells over the Indo-Gangetic plains.