Extreme weather conditions have enveloped entire North India and severe cold is sweeping most parts. Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh is under seize with biting shiver and cold creep. Despite the sunshine, the day temperature also have plunged below the average mark by 5-7°C. Icy winds from the hills, rolling down the slopes and foothills, spread the deep freeze across the region for the 3rd consecutive day, with no immediate signs of relenting.
Few locations do breach the freezing mark of 0°C during winter months. However, having these conditions a bit early this season, and of course with sharpened sting is little uncommon. Blame it on La Nina, the range of hills and spread of plains have been punished equally, without much of rains insight so far. La Nina year, invariably lashes cold bursts over North India, from the Central Asian region, penetrating deep in to central parts.
Churu, Sikar and Bhilwara have already gone sub-zero, with the lowest of -2.6°C, -2.5°C and 0°C respectively on 19thDecember. Pilani, Hisar and Amritsar just shied away by registering 0.1°C, 0.2°C and 0.8°C respectively. Minimum temperatures have dipped below 5°C, 3-5°C below the normal at Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Ambala, Karnal and Delhi for the 2nd consecutive day. Bareilly and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, both recorded temperature of 4.3°C and 4.5°C, about 5°C below the normal.
Tongue of cold has gone deep to cover parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Bhopal, Gwalior, Nowgong, Chhindwara, Khajuraho, Jabalpur and Umaria recorded temperatures less than 5°C, and 6-8°C below the normal. Nowgong and Umaria nearly froze at 1°C and Pachmarhi breached 0°C, albeit having an elevation of over 3000’. In Vidarbha, capital city Nagpur was coldest at 7.8°C and Amraoti and Gondia at 8°C and 8.2°C, all below normal by 4-6°C.
With the arrival of 2 western disturbances in quick succession on 22nd and 24thDecember, cold wave conditions are likely to abate soon, from post parts. Wind pattern will change and rains are likely over North India, both hills and plains. Fresh cold wave, if any, will come only in Jan2022.