IMD warns of severe cold wave, dense fog across north India over next few days
Large parts of north India, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, are bracing for a prolonged spell of severe cold wave and dense fog, with the IMD warning of near-zero visibility in several regions, sharply below-normal temperatures and dry weather conditions likely to persist through the week.
New Delhi: A severe cold wave accompanied by dense to very dense fog is set to tighten its grip over large parts of north India, including Delhi, over the next few days, according to the latest press release issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday.
In its forecast issued at 2 pm IST on January 11, the IMD said cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely over Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on January 12 and 13. Isolated cold wave conditions are expected to continue on January 14 before gradually easing.
For Delhi and the adjoining Haryana-Chandigarh region, the IMD warned of severe cold wave conditions at isolated places on January 12, followed by cold wave conditions on January 13. Morning hours are likely to witness dense fog till at least January 17, greatly impacting visibility and transport services.
Near-zero visibility reported
The warning comes after north India witnessed extreme winter conditions over the past 24 hours. Dense to very dense fog reduced visibility to near-zero levels in several locations, including Amritsar (0 metres), Gorakhpur (10 metres), Pilani (90 metres) and Patna (100 metres). Delhi and its surrounding regions were also among areas that experienced severe cold wave conditions.
Mercury plunges sharply
Minimum temperatures dropped sharply across northwest India, remaining between 1°C and 5°C in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and north Rajasthan, while many areas in Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh recorded sub-zero temperatures. The lowest minimum temperature in the plains was reported at Pilani in east Rajasthan, where the mercury dipped to 1.2°C. Temperatures were 3°C to 6°C below normal across parts of south Punjab, south Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan.
Cold to ease gradually
The IMD said there will be no significant change in minimum temperatures over northwest India for the next three days. However, a gradual rise of 2°C to 3°C is expected thereafter. Despite the biting cold, the weather is forecast to remain dry across the entire northern region, including Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, for the next seven days.
Elsewhere, isolated to scattered rainfall is likely over parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and coastal Andhra Pradesh until January 13, linked to a weakening low-pressure system over south Tamil Nadu and the adjoining Gulf of Mannar. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the Gulf of Mannar, Comorin areas and adjoining sea regions during this period.