The first moderate-intensity Western Disturbance of the season, which brought moderate to heavy rain and snowfall over the Western Himalayan region in the first week of December, has ushered in a significant drop in temperatures across North India.
Snowfall over the Himalayas is crucial for the onset of winter in the region. As the Western Disturbance passed, cold winds from the snow-covered mountains began to sweep across Northwest and parts of Central India, leading to a sharp decline in temperatures
Currently, temperatures have dropped significantly over many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Telangana. Hisar in Haryana recorded a bone-chilling minimum temperature of 0.6 degrees Celsius today, December 16th.
Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are prevailing in parts of Haryana and North Rajasthan, while cold wave conditions are being witnessed in parts of Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
A feeble Western Disturbance is currently approaching the Western Himalayan region, but it is not expected to bring any significant weather activity. However, it may slow down the winds over the Indo-Gangetic plains, leading to a marginal increase in minimum temperatures. With these conditions, it's safe to say that winter has arrived in North India. In the coming days, cold wave conditions may even extend to the eastern parts of the country.
Image Courtesy: ANI
