The first week of January remained coldest for Rajasthan Gujarat and many parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Minimum temperature of Rajasthan dropped below zero degree. Temperature of all the states starts increasing from January 9 leading to abatement of cold wave. Cold winds from north which were responsible for drop in temperatures were restricted by approaching western disturbance. Whenever a western disturbance reaches Western Himalayas, it alters the wind flow. Cold and dry winds from north are replaced by warm and humid wind from Southwest and East leading to increase in minimums and abatement of cold wave.
As the Western disturbance start vacating western parts of Himalayas, normal flow of cold northerly winds resumed over Pakistan, Western parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat leading to significant drop in temperatures. Minimum temperature which was in double digit over all these States have come down to single digit. A drop of 5 to 8 degrees have been witnessed over Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Minimum of Mumbai also dropped to 15.2 degree. This is the second coldest morning for Mumbai during this season. Cold wave is expected to intensify over many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and isolated pockets of north Madhya Maharashtra during next 2-3 days. Rajasthan and Gujarat may witness rise in temperature from January 18.