Following widespread rains in the plains and heavy snowfall across the mountains last week, the cold snap has intensified over the plains of North India. The regions largely include the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. The tongue of cold is extending over North Madhya Pradesh, as well. These conditions are likely to last for this week without any relief and may possibly intensify on account of the strengthening of the chill factor.
A cold day condition is announced when the minimum temperature is less than 10°C and the maximum is at least 4.4°C below the normal. A severe cold day is when the maximum is at least 6.5°C below the normal. For the plains, a cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature is 10°C or less and is 4.5 notches less than the normal. Also, the cold wave is announced when the minimum temperature plunges to 4°C or less. Severe cold wave criteria are when the mercury drops to 6.5°C or more below the normal or the minimum temperature sinks to 2°C or less.
Following the passage of the western disturbance, as it usually happens, the winds strengthen down the slopes of the mountains and sweep the plains. The minimum temperatures may not be plunging sharply due to sky-obscured conditions but the feel-like chill factor may drastically drop. The rise in the day temperature gets restricted on account of fog and the icy winds and remains significantly below normal. Presently, the day temperatures across the plains are hovering in low and mid-teens, remaining over 4°C below the normal. Widespread cold day conditions are prevailing over the plains of North India. Cold wave conditions are unlikely over wider areas, as the night temperatures may not drop to 4°C or less. The approaching western disturbances, one after the other, will restrict any sharp drop in the minimum temperatures. The extreme cold conditions may start reverting back to normal, anytime around the approaching weekend and roll over to the start of the next week, as well.
