NEW DELHI/GURUGRAM: The season's lowest temperature in the capital dipped further on Tuesday when the mercury touched 10 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal. On Monday, it was 10.8 degrees Celsius.

"A cold wave condition is predicted in Delhi for Wednesday. It has been predicted that the minimum temperature at a few stations will be 10 degrees Celsius on Wednesday," said Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at India Meteorological Department and head of Regional Weather Forecasting Centre. The maximum temperature was 31.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

In the National Capital Region, Faridabad recorded the minimum temperature of 9.5° C on Tuesday, the season's lowest, while the maximum was 30°. IMD said the minimum temperature of Gurugram on Monday was 10.2° C, the season's lowest for the station. However, Tuesday's data was not available.

Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality deteriorated on Tuesday and was back in the "very poor" category with an air quality index of 302. System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), a central forecasting body, said 3,068 fire counts were recorded on Monday in north Indian. However, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 fell to 10% on Tuesday as the wind direction changed from north-westerly to south-westerly in the morning.

Delhi's minimum temperature has been falling since Sunday. "The calm wind and lack of cloud cover are affecting night temperature. As the upper reaches of hilly areas have received light snowfall and rainfall, it has led to a decrease in temperature," Srivastava said.

"A marginal deterioration in Delhi's air quality is predicted for Wednesday and Thursday as AQI is likely to reach middle of the 'very poor' category," SAFAR stated. Boundary layer winds are likely to shift to north-westerly but with slower wind speed, some increased intrusion and marginal deterioration are expected, it added.

According to Met officials, the minimum temperature in Gurugram will hover around 10° C for the next seven days. With inputs from Gurugram bureau