The night temperatures have dipped significantly over parts of Rajasthan in the past 24 hours. The drop in temperatures has triggered cold wave conditions in some areas wherein the minimum temperature has plunged close to 4°C. Also, in a few areas, the night temperatures have plunged to about 3-4°C or even more, below the normal. However, the cold sweep is not likely to continue for long and the temperatures are likely to ease out within the next 48 hours. Winter rains are also likely in some parts around the weekend.
Following the passage of the western disturbance, weather conditions have cleared over the plains and mountains, as well. Chilly winds blowing across the slopes of mountains have added a cold punch to the air. Also, there has been a slight respite from the dense fog in many areas. The temperatures have sharply dropped in the past 24 hours. The significant lowest temperatures over the state include: Churu-4°C, Sikar-4.5°C, Chittorgarh- 4.3°C, Bhilwara- 4.6°C, Jodhpur-5.2°C. All these locations account for cold wave conditions with temperatures breaching the threshold mark of 4°C or registering below normal by 4-5°C.
A twist in the weather conditions is likely over most parts of the state within the next 48 hours. A cyclonic circulation is forming over coastal parts of the North Arabian Sea and the Sind Coast of Pakistan. This feature will be pumping moist and warm southwesterly winds over the state of Rajasthan. This circulation will shift inland by tomorrow and finally get subsumed by the induced circulation of western disturbance over the western and central parts of Rajasthan on 10th January 2025.
The change in the winds will abate the cold wave within the next 48 hours and the temperatures may rise to double digits at many places. Even the border areas in the arid region like Barmer, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Jodhpur and Bikaner may jump to go above 10°C anytime after 09th Jan. Approach of the western disturbance and appearance of induced circulation will lead to scattered rains over the state on 10th and 11thJan 2025. The spread and intensity will be more on 11th Jan. Central and eastern parts are likely to have a bigger share. The weather conditions will improve the next day, on Sunday. The temperatures are likely to sink again, at the start of next week.
Image courtesy: PTI