After the passage of western disturbance across the mountains and the cessation of rainy spells in the plains, the night temperatures have dropped over the entire region. These temperatures had earlier stayed in double digits over most parts of Punjab and Haryana. Haryana had a longer stint of double digits than Punjab. Now, the mercury has dropped simultaneously over both states. These temperatures are 3-4°C below the normal but not amounting to any cold wave conditions.
An active western disturbance dumped heavy snowfall over the hilly states, more so for Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Plains also observed fairly widespread rain and thundershowers. In the wake of the system, as it usually happens, the cold air brings the chill and leads to a drop in the night temperatures. Single-digit temperatures have returned over large parts of Punjab and a few pockets of Haryana, as well. The prominent places and the departure from normal being: Bhatinda 6°C (-3), Jalandhar 6.7°C (-3), Pathankot 6.9 (-3), Firozpur 7.1°C (-3), Chandigarh 8°C (-4), Karnal 6.1°C (-4), Hisar & Sirsa 9.0°C (-2).
Weather conditions have cleared over the entire region. Clouds and fog have lifted and the clear skies support a drop in the night temperatures. There are no major changes likely across the plains of North India. No rains are expected for the next week or so. The mercury level will stay in single digits at many places for the next 3-4 days, albeit not amounting to cold wave conditions. The likely arrival of a western disturbance, a weak one, over Jammu and Kashmir on 24th Feb will arrest the flow of colder winds from the slopes of snow-clad mountains. There could be a marginal drop tomorrow morning, but no major changes are expected for the subsequent 3-4 days. Impending changes in the wind pattern may lead to a rise in the mercury level towards fag end of the month.
Unlike last year, when the days had become extremely warm towards the last week of February, this season may behave better. Feb 2023 was much warmer for the plains and the temperatures hovered in the high 20’s and breached the 30°C mark, early in the season. The minimum temperatures may rise to double digits at the end of the month, but day temperatures will stay in mid 20’s, possibly below the normal. Too early to commit, but another spell of rain may lash these plains, very soon at the start of March.
