The entire north India has been reeling under severe cold wave conditions, with mercury plunging to sub-zero levels in upper reaches of the Himalayas. Heavy rainfall has made the matters worse, bringing the day chill across the region.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that widespread rain and snowfall is likely to continue today.

IMD is forecasting a 3-5C drop in minimum temperatures in northwest India. The states and territories where the lowest temperatures will drop are: Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Why is this happening?

IMD scientists said that the wet weather in northern India was due to two western disturbances, which brought a steady chill to the region. “Two consecutive WDs have caused the wet period in northwestern India to be extended. The impact is even greater due to the intrusion of moisture from the Arabian Sea. In central India, we expect winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal to converge, so IMD Director General M Mohapatra said: “There will be heavy rain in Madhya Pradesh. As WD moves, the very cold north wind blowing from the snow-covered Himalayas will lower the minimum temperature in northwest India. “

More snow on cards for the hills

IMD stated in its forecast that before January 10, the western Himalayas are likely to experience widely spread rain and/or snow. Some areas of Himachal Pradesh have been snowing in the past few days, and there may be more heavy snow or rain in the next few days.

At the same time, heavy rain hit Delhi on Sunday, causing the minimum temperature to stabilize at 13.8 degrees Celsius, 7 notches above normal.

The weather department said the city received 8 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours as recorded at 8.30am, while the relative humidity recorded at 5.30pm was 95 per cent.

On Saturday, Delhi recorded its highest rainfall in a day for January in 22 years, yielding the city’s best air quality in over two months even as the minimum temperature settled at 15 degrees Celsius, eight notches above normal.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times