New Delhi, January 21 (India Today) – A cold wave has been sweeping North India, with dense fog enveloping several areas.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dense fog is expected to prevail at isolated places over North and Central India. On Thursday, moderate fog was reported over Delhi, Haryana, parts of East Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at 05.30 hours (IST).
Dense to very dense fog in isolated or some pockets is in the forecast for Punjab, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Sikkim, the IMD said.
A fall in minimum temperatures is very likely over most parts of northwest India, it added. On Thursday, temperatures and their 24-hour tendency recorded at 05.30 (IST) over Delhi’s Palam was 9.2 and -0.2° C, and Safdarjung 10.0° C and +0.2° C.
The visibility in Amritsar, Bahraich and Siliguri was recorded at 25 metre each; Patiala, Sultanpur, Bhagalpur and Malda at 50 metre each; Gorakhpur and Patna at 200 metre each; Delhi at (Safdarjung and Palam at 500 metre.
Chilly weather conditions
Parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh are expected to brace for chilly weather conditions as fresh snowfall is on the cards.
This is mainly due to the presence of a western disturbance over central Asia. The system is expected to reach the Western Himalayan region by Friday. The activity will begin with snowfall over Ladakh on Friday afternoon, and spread into Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.
Under its influence, parts of North Punjab and North Haryana are likely to receive rain on Sunday. The best falls from Friday to Sunday are expected across Jammu and Kashmir with 50-80 mm of accumulated precipitation peak on Saturday.
Rain or snow activity will be limited to the Western Himalayan region, but the induced cyclonic circulation is expected to impact southern parts such as Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is also expected to result in lower temperatures both in highs and lows over the region through the weekend.
