Delhi is braced for colder days as the minimum temperature is expected to dip sharply by Friday on account of fresh snowfall in the mountains, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast. The city is also likely to see light rain over the weekend as a fresh western disturbance starts to impact the region from Saturday onwards, officials said.

On Tuesday, however, the minimum temperature was four degrees above normal at 10.5°C. This is forecast to dip to 6°C by Thursday and 5°C by Friday. The lowest minimum temperature recorded so far this season was on December 12, when it fell to 4.5°C.

IMD has also issued a yellow alert till Friday, forecasting moderate to dense fog to persist in the region, accompanied with cold northwesterly winds, which will lead to cold day conditions in isolated pockets. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature stood at 16.2°C, which was three degrees below normal. The maximum is likely to hover around 16°C till Thursday before marginally rising to 18°C by Friday.

IMD classifies it as a “cold day” when the maximum is 4.5°C or more below normal, with the minimum also being below 10°C. No weather station in the city met this criteria on Tuesday.