Cold wave conditions usually commence during the month of December over most parts of Northwest India. However, this year the wait was long as temperatures remained above normal over the northwestern plains till the third week of December.
But since last three to four days, a sudden drop in minimums was experienced leading to cold wave conditions in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. On Wednesday morning, many parts of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi recorded very low minimum temperatures such as Hisar recorded its night temperature at -1.0˚C, followed by Churu 1˚C, Amritsar 1.5˚C, Ludhiana 2.4˚C and Sri Ganganagar 3.5˚C.
So far, the question in everybody’s mind was why winters have not commenced until now. The reason for this delayed onset of winters has been attributed to the absence of active Western Disturbances over the hills. The passage of these active disturbances would have caused heavy snowfall activity over the Western Himalayas and thereafter winds blowing from northwest direction become icy cold. As these chilly winds reach over the northern and central parts of India, significant drop in temperatures is observed.
This year number of a Western Disturbances was less. However, feeble Western Disturbances continued throughout November and December, but these systems were not able to give rain and snow. However, they obstructed the flow of cold northwesterly winds leading to above normal temperatures.
Now due to the prevalence of unabated cold winds from northwest, temperatures have dropped significantly and further also we expect more drop-in temperatures. In fact, cold wave in likely to expand in some more parts of north and central India in the coming days.
Image Credits – Skymet Weather
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