Cold Wave Conditions To Intensify Over North India: Dense Fog Likely
Key Takeaways
- Cold wave conditions are currently limited to isolated pockets, mainly across Haryana.
- Western disturbances have influenced temperatures by restricting cold wind flow and triggering snowfall in the hills.
- Night temperatures are expected to drop sharply as skies clear across North India.
- Dense fog may disrupt transport over the next few days, though daytime visibility should improve.
Mountains and plains of North India have witnessed a spell of chilling cold due to low temperatures during both day and night. However, cold wave conditions have remained confined to a few pockets, mostly over Haryana, where the minimum temperature dropped to 4°C or lower. Hisar and Narnaul recorded minimum temperatures of 3.6°C and 3°C, respectively, while Bhiwani followed closely at 4.8°C. Since the normal minimum temperatures across the plains of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Rajasthan are around 5°–6°C at this time of the season, the mercury needs to drop to 4°C or less for cold wave conditions to prevail.
The passage of a western disturbance across the mountains restricted the free flow of frigid winds down the slopes. Snowfall activity over Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh triggered very low day temperatures, and the cold sweep extended to the adjoining plains as well. Fog in suspension curtailed sunshine across the plains, leading to below-normal day temperatures across the region. However, as night temperatures did not drop appreciably, cold wave conditions largely stayed away from the plains, except in isolated pockets.
The western disturbance is now lying as an upper-air system over extreme northern parts of Jammu & Kashmir. Snowfall will remain confined to the higher reaches. Sky conditions are expected to improve, and the fog in suspension is likely to ease over the plains. Minimal clouding at night and adequate sunshine during the day will facilitate nocturnal radiational cooling. A sharp decline in night temperatures is expected over the plains of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan. Clearance of snowfall in the hills, followed by the incursion of freezing winds in the rear, will further lower minimum temperatures across the mountains, including popular hill resorts of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
The typical combination of temperature, humidity, and winds will become favourable for expansive fog formation over the next 3–4 days. Dense and thick fog may impact transportation, including air operations. However, atmospheric obscurity is likely to lift gradually, with visibility improving during the forenoon hours. Cold wave conditions are expected to impact both the hills and plains over the next 10 days or so.
