Mercury levels have plunged to the lowest of the season so far at few places, over plains of North India. Earlier also, similar dip was registered couple of days back. Fresh drop is associated with the passage of weak western disturbance across mountains of North India. This slide down will not last long and factually, the temperature will rise over the next 48 hours. Light rain is also likely at few places today.
Lowest temperatures are spread across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Noticeable dive is recorded at Ludhiana (3.4°C), Chandigarh (6.3°C), Hisar (3.5°C), Pilani (4.5°C) and Sikar 2.8°C. Sikar had earlier also recorded 3°C on 20thDecember, the lowest of the region. Foothill places like Una, Sundernagar, Mandi and Pantnagar have been inching towards the freeze point. Capital city Delhi has been hovering around 6°C for the last 3 days and stands at 6.2°C today.
A western disturbance has arrived today over Jammu & Kashmir. A broad, but weak cyclonic circulation is also marked over parts of North Rajasthan, parts of Punjab & Haryana and Delhi region. Under the combined influence of these systems, the wind pattern is likely to change to warm easterlies in the lower levels of the atmosphere. The western disturbance will cause rain and snow in the mid and higher reaches of the northern mountains over the next 3 days. The lower hills may only witness light rainfall.
Isolated light rainfall is likely over parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Delhi seems to be little far from reach of the system and therefore only an outside chance of sprinkle during tonight. Cloudy sky will precede over these parts during the day time itself. Clouds and change in the wind direction will raise the temperature by about 2°C across the region. Marginal drop is expected after the passage of system, on 25th and 26th December. The mercury will rise again closer to the new year eve.
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