The northern plains of India are set to experience unseasonal rain over the upcoming weekend as a Western disturbance moves in, bringing widespread weather changes. Over the past 24 hours, isolated light rainfall has already been observed across parts of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. This has been caused by the movement of a Western disturbance, which is now beginning to move away from the region. As it retreats, dry winds from the snow-clad mountains will sweep across the northwest and central parts of the country, resulting in a significant drop in minimum temperatures.
The coming days will witness a shift in weather patterns as another Western disturbance approaches the Western Himalayas, which will trigger an induced cyclonic circulation over North Rajasthan and the adjoining states of Punjab and Haryana. This system will lead to scattered rain and thundershowers, initially affecting North Rajasthan. Gradually, rain activities are expected to spread across many parts of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi NCR.
Thunderstorms, accompanied by hailstorms, are also a possibility. If these storms occur, they could potentially cause damage to the standing crops, especially those that are in their growth stage. Farmers in these areas will need to remain vigilant to mitigate any possible crop loss due to the harsh weather conditions.
In terms of temperatures, the current dry spell brought on by the retreating Western disturbance will lead to a sharp dip in the minimum temperatures. Cold wave conditions are expected to prevail over parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan during the mid-week, making the nights significantly colder. However, this cool-weather will not last long, as the approaching Western disturbance will bring a reversal in temperature trends. As rainfall and cloud cover increase, the minimum temperatures will begin to rise once again, particularly over Northwest India and the adjoining plains of Uttar Pradesh from January 11.
The coming weekend's rainfall is expected to be unseasonal but impactful, with the possibility of hailstorms posing a threat to agriculture. With temperatures fluctuating and the ongoing rain, residents of the affected regions should prepare for a mix of cold, wet, and unsettled weather over the next few days.
