Cold Wave in North India: Will weather play spoilsport in your New Year plans? Check forecast here

Cold Wave Alert In North India From December 31 Till January 1

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on December 27 said that the northern parts of the country will witness fresh cold wave conditions from December 31 till January 1. So it's better that you avoid going out, but if you still want to attend the New Year party, then it's better to wear extra layers of warm clothes.

R.K. Jenamani, senior scientist at the IMD said that ‘cold days and severe cold days’ will continue in south Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh, adding that ‘cold to severe cold wave’ to continue over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and north Rajasthan.

“Cold day & severe cold day is mainly over south Haryana & west UP. Day temp improved over north Punjab, north Haryana & north Rajasthan. Cold to severe cold wave continues over Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan & Delhi,” said Jenamani.

Jenamani also stated that a blanket of dense fog will continue to cover the country's northern belt, but that weather conditions will improve beginning December 29.

The weather department also predicted a fresh spell of snowfalls in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Leh due to the western disturbance. 

 “Dense to very dense fog will continue to prevail in the belt. There will be an improvement on Dec 29 because of the western disturbance which will bring fresh snowfall in J&K, Leh & Himachal Pradesh. There'll be drizzle in north Punjab on Dec 29,” he added.

Temperature Dip On New Year’s Eve

The IMD said that the dense fog and moderately chilly winds from the north were responsible for this steep fall in temperature.

“Northwesterly dry and cold winds will continue over Northwest India. However, intensity of fog may decrease leading to marginal increase in day temperatures and abatement of cold wave from parts of West Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana. Minimum temperature may also increase marginally,” said the MeT office.

The IMD said that a fresh western disturbance is expected around December 30 and December 31 due to which light snowfall is likely over the upper reaches of the Western Himalayas. It means mercury can dip on Near Year’s Eve.

“Light snowfall is going on over the upper reaches of the Western Himalayas. Another Western disturbance is expected around December 30 and 31st. Moderate snowfall is possible during that time. Temperatures may dip once again on New Year eve,” he said.

Rainfall in Punjab

The western disturbance may cause showers in Punjab in the coming days, according to the IMD. A blanket of fog will continue to hover over the state.

Northern parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan have got a slight relief from the cold wave as daytime temperatures in these regions have slightly improved on December 27.

On December 26, Delhi witnessed one of its coldest days in years after dense fog settled over the Indo-Gengetic Plain. The maximum temperature in the national capital was recorded at 15.6 degrees Celsius, 6 notches lower than the normal for this time of the year.

In Rajasthan, the mercury hit sub-zero levels on December 26 at some stations at night. Fatehpur recorded a low -1.5 degree Celsius, seven notches below normal. Churu recorded the next lowest night temperature at 0 degrees Celsius.

Also Read: Cold wave, dense fog grip North India, no respite till Thursday; check forecast here