Normally during the month of October, minimum temperatures in Northwest India remain comfortable in lower 20s. Mercury tends to dip further by 2-3 degrees by the end of the month.
However this year, night temperatures have fallen during the first half of the month itself. People across the plains could feel the wintry chill during the morning hours, while evenings are extremely pleasant.
For instance, Delhi and Haryana saw minimum temperatures dipping to 17°C on October 15 and 16. Similarly, morning temperatures over several parts of Southeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra are also settling12°C and 15°C.
According to Skymet Weather, this rapid drop can be attributed to the continuous flow of dry and cool northwesterly winds.
Normally, Western Disturbance starts affecting the hilly region of North India from October till March or sometimes up to April. The passage of such systems obstruct the flow of these northwesterly winds, that get replaced by easterly winds. This changeover of wind does not let the minimum temperatures drop below 20°C.
However this year, we have not seen any active Western Disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir. One or two feeble weather systems did affect the region but failed to make any impact.
Even as we proceed further, we do not foresee any active Western Disturbance approaching Western Himalayas. Therefore, flow of these cool winds will continue to drop the night temperatures, however, this drop will be a marginal one.
Image credit: en.wikipedia.org
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