Weather conditions have remained unusually warm even till fag end of October. Diwali eve is mostly synonymous with one odd layer of woollens in the evening. Defying the norms, the minimum temperatures are steady in the high teens, across the northern parts, including the national capital Delhi. The mercury level has breached the 20°C mark over the plains of Punjab, Haryana, West Uttar Pradesh and North Rajasthan. Further, West Rajasthan, East Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which otherwise are traditionally cold pockets around Diwali are all soaring in the mid and high 20s. No doubt, the festival of Diwali has arrived a little early this time, yet, it is much warmer than normal, across the plains. Next year, the festivities of Diwali will further get pre-poned by nearly 10 days. And therefore, in anticipation, that could also be a repeat of this year.
Delhi has recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 17.4°C, so far. Invariably, the temperatures drop to under 15°C around this time. Most observatories have recorded a minimum of over 20°C, this morning. The plains in the neighbourhood are no different. Ambala and Rohtak in Haryana have registered a minimum of 21.2°C and 21.8°C, respectively, today morning. These temperatures are nearly 7°C above the normal. Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bhatinda and Firozpur in Punjab have recorded minimum temperatures, in excess of 20°C, and again about 7°C above the average. Similar is the case in the neighbourhoods of these states.
There is a weak western disturbance moving across the northern mountains. The system will clear the hilly ranges, sometime tomorrow. The presence of the system has arrested the fall in mercury levels. In the wake of the system, a marginal drop in the temperature is expected on 31st October and 01st November 2024. However, the in-situ formation of a dry cyclonic circulation will lead to disturbing the normal wind pattern. The temperatures may rise once again between the 02nd and 05th Nov 2024. Dry weather conditions will prevail across the plains for the next about 10 days or so. Typical winter chill will still remain at bay and may arrive by mid-November.
