Internet friends in India report record cold in New Delhi. And foods for warmth.

Delhi Cold Spell- The cold spell this year - likely to ease next week - beats the last such spell in 1997.
Delhi
Gripped by bone-chilling cold, Delhi this morning recorded a minimum temperature of 2.4 degrees, the lowest for the season so far. The national capital - under a cold spell since December 14 - is expected to witness its second-coldest December since 1901, according to the weather office.

Mercury dipped to its lowest this morning with the Safdarjung Observatory - whose figures are taken as the official reading for the city - recording 2.4 degrees Celsius. Among other observatories, the one at Palam recorded 3.1 degrees Celsius, the Lodhi Road observatory recorded 1.7 degrees Celsius, Aya Nagar observatory recorded 1.9 degrees Celsius, news agency PTI reported quoting a senior India Meteorological Department official.

Dense fog reduced visibility in parts of Delhi, disrupting rail, road and air traffic. Four flights have been diverted till now at Delhi airport due to low visibility and 24 trains are running late.

Since December 14, most parts in the city have been impacted by a 13-day cold spell.

Soaring temperatures and dry winds are tipped to hit Australia, massively increasing the risk of bushfires and smoke haze for New Year’s Eve.

An “extreme” heatwave is slowly building over Australia’s south, bringing soaring temperatures and dry winds in the coming days.

The warm front is forecast to elevate bushfire danger in parts of the nation’s south as “severe” conditions build.

Monday and Tuesday are tipped to be the worst days for bushfires and smoke haze, just as we’re welcoming in the new year.

Sky News Meteorologist Rob Sharpe said the “extreme” heatwave is currently lingering over northwestern parts of the country, where the mercury is breaking 45C today.

“As we move through the week though, that heat is going to build through southern parts of Australia,” he said.

“Initially, winds are not going to be that strong so we’re going to see a few regions with severe fire danger on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s not going to be that dangerous, but it really ramps up at the end of heatwave on Monday.”

He said that, on Monday, strong winds will “suddenly” pick up and severe heat will hit Victoria, South Australia, NSW and even Tasmania.

Temperatures are set to hit the 40s on the mainland and the mid-30s in Tasmania.

Mr Sharpe said “dangerous” fire conditions are expected to peak on that day and it’s likely there will be smoke haze in Sydney on New Year’s Eve.