Weather: As winter tightens its grip, North India finds itself in the clutches of unseasonal cold, with minimum temperatures ranging from 2-5°C in most parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, and 6-10°C in areas of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, north Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and beyond. These temperatures are notably below normal by 1°C to 4°C in many parts of Northwest and adjoining East India. Hissar (Haryana) reported the lowest minimum temperature at a bone-chilling 1.1°C.
Weather Systems and Forecast:
- Jet Stream Winds: Jet stream winds at 140-150 knots prevail over North India, likely causing light rainfall/snowfall in isolated places across Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on January 17th.
- Rainfall Forecast: From January 16th to 18th, 2024, expect light to moderate rainfall in isolated to some places over Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal & Sikkim, and Northeast India.
- Hailstorm Alert: Isolated hailstorms are likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Nagaland on January 16th & 17th and over Sikkim on January 17th, 2024.
Dense Fog and Cold Day Warning:
- Dense to very dense fog conditions are anticipated in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi during January 16th night to January 18th morning.
- Uttar Pradesh may experience dense fog during January 16th night to January 18th morning, with isolated pockets facing dense fog for the subsequent 3 days.
- Isolated pockets of Uttarakhand and north Madhya Pradesh may witness dense fog on January 16th & 17th.
- Various regions, including Bihar, north Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Assam & Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu division, Gangetic West Bengal, and Odisha, are expected to experience dense fog at different intervals.
Cold Day and Severe Cold Day Conditions:
- Parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh are expected to face Cold Day to Severe Cold Day conditions on January 16th, with some parts continuing till January 20th.
- Uttar Pradesh might witness Cold Day to Severe Cold Day conditions on January 16th and in isolated pockets on January 17th.
- Bihar is likely to experience Cold Day to Severe Cold Day conditions on January 16th & 17th, with cold day conditions in isolated pockets during January 18th-20th.
Minimum Temperature Forecast and Cold Wave Warning:
- Northwest India is predicted to witness a rise of about 2°C in minimum temperatures over the next 2 days.
- East India is expected to see a rise of 2-4°C in minimum temperatures over the next 4 days.
- No significant change in minimum temperatures is anticipated over the rest of the country for the next 5 days.
- Many parts of Punjab may continue to face Cold Wave to Severe Cold Wave conditions from January 16th to 20th.
- Parts of Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi might experience Cold Wave to Severe Cold Wave conditions from January 16th to 20th.
- Isolated pockets of north Rajasthan may witness Cold Wave conditions from January 16th-18th, and West Uttar Pradesh on January 16th.
- Ground frost conditions are very likely over Northwest India on January 16th & 17th.
As North India battles this unexpected cold wave, residents are advised to take necessary precautions, and authorities are on high alert to manage the potential challenges posed by the severe weather conditions.
Source: India Meteorological Department
