In the wake of the passage of the Western Disturbance and subsequent snowfall across the mountains, the night temperatures have dipped below normal at many places over North India. Plains of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan have observed sharp drops in the mercury levels, registering under 5°C temperature at many places. Incidentally, these are the lowest temperatures of the season, so far. The cold snap amounts to cold wave conditions in some pockets and may continue for a couple of days.
The cold wave conditions for the plains are declared when the minimum temperature is 10°C or below and is 4.5°C less than the normal for two consecutive days. However, for smaller areas, even if, the criteria are fulfilled for a day, a cold wave may be considered. Also, the cold wave is announced when the minimum temperature drops to 4°C or less in the plains. Currently, a mix of both these criteria is getting fulfilled and therefore the cold wave conditions over parts of northern states.
Apparently, Amritsar is the coldest in the plains with a minimum sinking to a mere 2°C, about 4°C below the normal. This is closely followed by Pathankot with the lowest of 2.7°C, again 4°C below the average. Bhatinda, Ferozepur, Chandigarh, Hisar, Churu and Sikar have all registered minimum temperatures of </= 5°C. Some locations in the foothills with a modest elevation between 1,200 feet and 2.500 feet have fallen close to freezing point. Una and Surendernagar have recorded a minimum of 0.4°C and 0.2°C this morning. Even the lower hills like Srinagar, Manali and Mukteshwar have already slipped to sub-zero temperatures.
Feeble western disturbance as an upper air system is persisting over the higher mountains, but unlikely to influence the plains. Yes, further drop in the temperature may get arrested for the next two days. After the clearance over the hills, the mercury may plunge further sometime around the weekend between the 13th and 15th Dec 2024. Cold wave conditions are expected to intensify and increase its spread as well.
Image Courtesy: IANS