Most of the plains of North and North West India are in the grip of severe cold wave. , Photo credit: Sandeep Saxena
On January 1, 2023, the minimum temperature in many parts of northwest India remained between one to three degrees Celsius as cold wave conditions continued in Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi.
The region is likely to get colder in the next two days as northwesterly winds from the Himalayas are blowing over the plains. However, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave conditions will abate from January 19 under the influence of two western disturbances, which are likely to affect the region early.
When a western disturbance – a weather system characterized by warm moist winds from the Middle East – approaches an area, the wind direction changes. The cold north-westerly winds coming from the mountains stop blowing, due to which the temperature rises.
Here’s all you need to know about cold wave in north and northwest India
1. The minimum temperature is likely to drop further by about 2°C over many parts of northwest India by January 17. two new western disturbances
2. Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions prevailed in many parts of Delhi and parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. “The minimum temperature is between one and three degrees Celsius in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, northwest and east Rajasthan; In the range of three to five degrees Celsius over remaining parts of Rajasthan, many parts of western Uttar Pradesh,” the IMD said.
3. A fresh Western Disturbance is very likely to affect Western Himalayan region from 18th January night. Under its influence, light/moderate/isolated/scattered rain/snow very likely over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad. It is likely to occur over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during January 18-20, 2023.
4. In quick succession, another active Western Disturbance is very likely to affect western Himalayan region from 20th January night and adjoining plains of northwest India from 22nd January. Under its influence, light-moderate scattered/ fairly widespread rain/snow over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during January 20-24 and over northwest India during January 22-24. Light to moderate scattered rain is likely over the plains.
5. The IMD had earlier issued an orange warning of cold wave in Delhi till January 17-18. The weather station at Lodhi Road, where the IMD headquarters is located, recorded a minimum temperature of 1.6 degrees Celsius. Southwest Delhi’s Ayanagar recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius, central Delhi’s Ridge two degrees Celsius and west Delhi’s Jafarpur 2.2 degrees Celsius.
6. Churu, located near the Thar Desert, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.5 degrees Celsius on Monday, the lowest in the plains. The base station of Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi, recorded a minimum temperature of 1.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest in the month since January 1, 2021.
7. Delhi witnessed intense cold wave from January 5 to 9, the second longest duration in the month in a decade, according to IMD data. Over 50 hours of dense fog have been recorded so far this month, which is the highest since 2019.
8. No significant change in temperature is expected over Gujarat till January 18 and thereafter increase of 2-4°C.
9. Dense to very dense fog very likely at isolated places during night and morning over Sub Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during January 16-18. Dense fog very likely at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand during January 16-18; in Bihar between 16-19 January; over Odisha between January 16-17 and over Assam and Meghalaya and Tripura between January 16-20.
10. There is a possibility of frost at isolated places in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Uttar Pradesh between January 17-18.
Difference Between Cold Wave and Severe Cold Wave
In the plains, a cold wave is declared if the minimum temperature drops to four degrees Celsius or when it falls below 10 degrees Celsius and 4.5 degrees below normal. A severe cold wave occurs when the minimum temperature drops by 2 °C or the departure from the normal range is more than 6.4 °C.
(With PTI/ANI inputs)