During the last 24 hours, plains of Northwest India particularly Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan have been observing cold conditions. Temperatures have dropped in these areas by around 7 to 8 degrees.
This fall in the temperatures can be attributed to heavy to hefty snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh on December 12 and 13. These conditions occurred due to an active Western Disturbance, which affected the region.
After the passage of the Western Disturbance, icy and cold northerly winds, which blow from the snow clad mountains have reached up to North Madhya Pradesh. Now, cold wave conditions have set in over isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
For instance, Narnaul has been observing below normal temperatures by 4 degrees. Also, Churu has recorded -0.4°C, which is 7 degrees below normal. Amritsar has observed its minimum at 3.2°C, Sri Ganganagar 3.9°C, and Kanpur 3°C. Icy cold winds will continue to blow for another 3 to 4 days. Also, temperatures are likely to fall even further in some more parts of North India.
During the next 2 to 3 days, some parts of the state including Rajasthan and Haryana will also see frost. The formation of frost is quite harmful to crops in the nascent stage mainly wheat in the Indo-Gangetic plains. Frost formation takes place when the minimums go below 4°C.
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