Punjab and Haryana witnessed its first significant winter spell of rains this year on February 11 and continued until February 12. Before this, light rainfall activity was witnessed around January 22 and 23. Usually, the northern plains of Punjab and Haryana receive winter rains in the wake of active Western Disturbances and their induced cyclonic circulations.
[yuzo_related]
During the last 24 hours from 8.30 am on Monday, Pathankot witnessed rain to the tune of 39 mm, Kapurthala 17 mm, Ludhiana 13 mm, Chandigarh 15 mm. In the same time frame, Kurukshetra recorded 5 mm rain, Ambala and Karnal 3 mm, each as well as Amritsar 2.2 mm.
Whenever a strong Western Disturbance approaches the Western Himalayas, it induces a cyclonic circulation over Punjab and Haryana or at times over Rajasthan leading to winter rainfall over the Northern Plains.
At present, a Western Disturbance is affecting the Western Himalayas and has already given moderate to heavy rain and snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Its induced cyclonic circulation over North Rajasthan was instrumental for rainfall activity over the states of Punjab and Haryana. These rains were also beneficial for the winter crops.
However, as per weathermen at Skymet Weather, rains are likely to take a break now.
Due to rains in the last 24 hours, the day temperatures dropped down significantly which were otherwise running above normal for the past many days. It is expected that the minimum temperatures will fall by 2°C to 3°C, over Punjab and Haryana. Meanwhile, the maximum temperatures will increase by 2°C to 3°C in the next two days. Therefore, the day is likely to become warm and sunny but the nights will be cold once again.
This season, from October to February the northern plains witnessed only two to three spells of rain and thundershowers. In fact, January was one of the driest months for the northwestern plains in the recent years.
IMAGE CREDIT: Wikipedia.org
Any information taken from here should be credited to skymetweather.com
