Northern and central parts of the country are reeling under frigid conditions. States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh are seized with severe cold with temperatures plummeting to under five degrees at many places. Out of all these states, Uttar Pradesh is having a large spread of cold snap, running across the state from east to west. Freezing temperatures have been recorded in a few pockets of other states, as well. Mandla in Madhya Pradesh and Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh have recorded lowest temperature of 3.5°C and 4.3°C, respectively. The tongue of cold has travelled as far as Maharashtra and Telangana, as well.
Uttar Pradesh has the longest east-west corridor from Aligarh-Meerut to Gorakhpur-Ballia, running for nearly 1000 km. All along this stretch, the mercury has dropped to register the lowest temperatures of January, so far. Prominent places among these are : Kanpur-4.5°C, Lucknow-5.4°C, Prayagraj-5°C, Fursatganj-4.6°C, Meerut-5.2°C, Shahjahanpur-4.8°C, Bareilly- 5.3°C, Bahraich-5.4°C, Varanasi-6.2°C, Gorakhpur-6.2°C. All these temperatures are 4-5°C below the normal, amounting to cold wave conditions in pockets of the state. There is a respite likely over the weekend.
The western and central parts of Uttar Pradesh are likely to have rains on 11th and 12th January 2025, more noticeably on the first day. There is an induced cyclonic circulation coming up over parts of East Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh. This will get moisture from the Arabian Sea and trigger rain and thundershowers over the northern plains. Uttar Pradesh will also have its share, albeit not very strong, on the weekend.
Rains are likely over Aligarh, Meerut, Agra, Bareilly, Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj and Ayodhya on 11th Jan 2025. The rain belt will shrink the next day. Winter showers will become isolated, on Sunday. Places like Bareilly, Pilibhit, Kanpur, Lucknow and Prayagrag may have a repeat of the previous day. Following a twist in the weather conditions, the night temperature will rise to abate the cold wave conditions. However, the day temperatures will drop and lead to cold day conditions in some places. The state is likely to come in for dense fog at the start of the next week.