The long awaited wintry chill has finally arrived over plains of North India. Several parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and even few parts of West Uttar Pradesh reeled under cold day conditions during last 24 hours.
Cold day conditions are observed when day temperatures over certain place settle below 16°C.
Moreover, these weather conditions are likely to persist over northern plains for next 24 to 48 hours as well. Though marginal rise is expected in the day temperatures but continuous flow of dry and icy cold northwesterly winds will sustain the wintry chill over these states.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, moderate icy winds from northern region are blowing over the plains and as a result, many places are witnessing moderate to dense fog.
As the fog started lifting, it gave rise to low level clouds. Due to this sky remained obscured for a longer duration and maximum temperatures did not rise much. This resulted in cold day conditions over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh.
Skymet predicts that these conditions are likely to abate after two days as a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect Western Himalayas from January 18 onward.
The system will again change the wind pattern and cold northwesterly winds will be interrupted, leading to rise in minimum temperatures. Sun will also come up and day temperatures will increase too.
Plains of North India have not witnessed cold day conditions till January 14. Generally, these conditions start affecting the region by the end of December.
However this year, temperatures across the plains remained above normal by 3-4 degrees. The increased temperatures can be attributed to the shallow intensity of fog. Dense to very dense fog was not observed for a longer duration, which curtails the rise in day temperatures.
Weather conditions have not been favourable this season for the formation of fog. Factors required for its formation are lower temperatures, high levels of humidity and light winds. All these conditions have been missing so far due to absence of winter rains.
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