North India is experiencing an unusual cold wave, as minimum temperatures hover between 3-6°C over Punjab and parts of Haryana-Chandigarh, and 7-10°C over Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, north Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. These temperatures are 1-3°C below normal in several areas, with Ludhiana in Punjab reporting the lowest minimum temperature at 3.1°C.
Weather Systems and Forecast:
The prevailing Jet Stream Winds, ranging from 140-160 knots at 12.6 km above sea level, are driving the cold wave conditions across North India. This is causing the subsidence of cold air, enhancing the ongoing cold day phenomenon. The intensity of these Jet Stream Winds is expected to persist over the next 3-4 days.
On January 18, 2024, light to moderate rainfall is anticipated in isolated places over Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal & Sikkim, and Northeast India. Additionally, Sikkim may experience isolated hailstorms on the same day.
Dense Fog and Cold Day Warning:
Dense to very dense fog is expected to prevail over some parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh from the 18th night to the 20th morning, with isolated pockets experiencing dense fog from the 21st to the 23rd of January. Similar fog conditions are anticipated in West Uttar Pradesh from late night on the 18th to the morning of the 23rd.
Isolated pockets of Uttarakhand and north Rajasthan may witness dense fog on the 18th and 19th, with additional occurrences in East Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Assam & Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura during the 18th-20th. Cold Day to Severe Cold Day conditions are likely to persist in various parts of North India during this period.
Minimum Temperature Forecast and Cold Wave Warning:
Over the next two days, no significant change in minimum temperatures is expected over Northwest India, but a subsequent rise by about 2°C is forecasted. Conversely, East India may witness no significant change in minimum temperatures over the next two days, followed by a subsequent fall by 2-3°C.
The rest of the country is anticipated to experience no significant change in minimum temperatures during the next five days. Cold wave to Severe Cold wave conditions are likely to persist in some parts of Punjab and Haryana on the 18th & 19th, with cold wave conditions expected on the 20th & 21st of January. Isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh may experience cold wave conditions on the 18th & 19th, while north Rajasthan may see these conditions on the 20th & 21st of January.
North India is in the grip of an unseasonable chill, with minimum temperatures below normal and a forecast of continued cold wave conditions. Residents are advised to stay updated on weather warnings and take necessary precautions to combat the intense cold and foggy conditions in the coming days.
