On Wednesday morning, Amritsar in Punjab recorded 5.8°C, four degrees below normal, in comparison to 12.8°C on Tuesday. Similarly Chandigarh settled at 8.2°C, three degrees below normal, Ludhiana 9°C, two degrees below normal and Jalandhar 7.6°C.
Delhi also recorded night temperature of 10.7°C, again two degrees below normal. In Haryana, Karnal witnessed 8.8°C, two degrees below normal, Bhiwani 10.8°C, three degrees below normal and Ambala 9.7°C, one degree below normal.
However this drop in temperature is for a very brief period and will sustain only for next 24 hours. Post this, minimum temperatures will once again register a rise on account of an approaching Western Disturbance, which is likely to affect North India by March 7.
As per Skymet, most of the cities are witnessing single digit minimum temperatures, which is not very commonly seen during March as average night temperatures generally settle in double digits between 10°C and 12°C.
Dip in temperatures is the result of change in wind pattern from easterlies to north-westerlies that are cold in nature. Recently a strong Western Disturbance lashed North India with exceptionally heavy snow and rain and lasted for three days, resulting in rise in minimum temperatures.
Western Disturbances become frequent during winters and are responsible for affecting the weather in the region to a large extent. These systems after approaching the region usually stay for 1-2 days and give short spells of rain. The system is called Western Disturbance due to its movement from west to east.