The night temperatures, finally, have broken the jinx of staying above normal this season, over the plains of North India. The minimum temperatures remained record-high during the first half of November at most places in Punjab and Haryana. A significant fall in the mercury levels has been witnessed across large parts of these two states. Even, some pockets of neighbouring Rajasthan also had deep dives of morning temperatures. Sikar recorded a minimum temperature of 7.2°C, about 4°C below the normal and the lowest in the plains of the country.
The interiors of Punjab and Haryana have recorded minimum temperature of under 10°C, at many places, for the first time in this season. The prominent places being : Amritsar-9.4°C, Ferozepur-9.4°C, Ludhiana-9.6°C, Hisar-9.0°C, Karnal-9.6°C. Incidentally, these are the lowest temperatures of this season, so far, and also below normal by about 1°-2°C. The winter chill has just begun to settle, after an abnormally long wait in the wings.
A strong and active western disturbance is yet to visit the mountains of North India. There have been weak systems lashing mid and higher peaks, so far. The typical biting winter chill will follow only after the lower and mid mountains get snow-clad ranges, following the passage of powerful westerly systems. The process has started but the peak is yet to arrive.
There is no significant western disturbance expected over the northern parts of the country during the remaining days of this month. A weak westerly trough will move across the higher reaches between 23rd and 25th Nov. It is not likely to have any visible impact over the plains. However, the seasonal anticyclone over Rajasthan is fairly established now. This is very essential to trigger the cold sweep from the slopes of mountains to the meadows of the plains. The single-digit temperatures accompanied by moderate chill are likely to persist for the next 3-4 days. The passage of the trough may arrest any further fall. Yet, the last days of the month will find persistent fog, moderate breeze and crispy cold across the plains of North India.
