As winter tightens its grip over Northern India, the region is currently experiencing minimum temperatures in the range of 9-12°C. This weather phenomenon encompasses several parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, north Rajasthan, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim. Notably, these temperatures are considered normal to above normal for this time of the year. Today’s record reflects the lowest minimum temperature at 5.5°C reported in Motihari, Bihar.
Weather Systems and Forecast for the Next 5 Days:
Western Disturbances and Associated Weather Patterns
A Western Disturbance, manifesting as a trough in the middle tropospheric westerlies, extends roughly along Long. 72°E to the north of Lat. 32°N. This disturbance induces a cyclonic circulation over northwest Rajasthan and its neighboring areas in the lower tropospheric level. Another Western Disturbance is anticipated to impact Northwest India from the 3rd of February, 2024.
Under the influence of these weather systems, the following conditions are expected:
- Rainfall and Snowfall: Light to moderate, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and snowfall is highly likely over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan & Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on the 1st and from the 3rd to the 5th of February, 2024.
- Scattered Rainfall: Light to moderate, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall is anticipated over Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Delhi, and isolated to scattered rainfall over Uttar Pradesh and East Rajasthan today. Similar conditions are expected on the 3rd and 4th of February.
- Hailstorm: Isolated hailstorms are likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, north Punjab, north Haryana, Chandigarh, and northwest Uttar Pradesh on the 1st; over West Rajasthan on the 3rd, and over East Rajasthan on the 4th of February, 2024.
- Surface Winds: Strong and chilly surface winds, ranging from 30-40 kmph, are predicted over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh-Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh on the 1st of February.
- Eastern Regions: Light to moderate, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall/snowfall is expected over Arunachal Pradesh during the next 5 days (1st to 5th February). Isolated to scattered rainfall is also forecasted over West Bengal & Sikkim, Odisha, Assam & Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur & Tripura during the 1st to the 2nd of February.
- Heavy Rainfall/Snowfall: Isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh on the 1st and 2nd of February.
- Hailstorm in Eastern Regions: Isolated hailstorms are expected over Assam & Meghalaya on the 2nd of February and over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim on the 1st and 2nd of February, 2024.
Dense Fog and Cold Day Warning:
- Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh: Dense to very dense fog conditions are very likely to prevail in the morning hours on the 2nd of February and in isolated pockets on the 3rd of February, 2024.
- Uttar Pradesh: Dense to very dense fog conditions are very likely to prevail in the morning hours on the 2nd of February.
- Bihar, North Rajasthan: Dense fog conditions in isolated pockets are very likely to prevail for a few hours in the morning over Bihar on the 2nd and 3rd of February and over north Rajasthan on the 2nd of February, 2024.
- Abatement of Cold Day Conditions: The abatement of cold day conditions is very likely over the country.
Minimum Temperature Forecast and Cold Wave Warning:
- No Significant Change: No significant change in minimum temperatures is expected over most parts of the country during the next 5 days.
- Temperature Fall: A fall by 2-3°C in minimum temperatures is likely over many parts of Central & East India during the first 2 days, with no significant change thereafter.
- Cold Wave Conditions: No cold wave conditions are anticipated over any part of the country during the next 5 days.
Stay updated with the latest weather forecasts and prepare for the varying conditions as winter unfolds its diverse facets over Northern India in the coming days.
Source: India Meteorological Department
