Warm but January winter was record breaking. Most parts of India managed to break their winter record in 2016. While Jammu recorded its coldest night in 70 years as temperatures plunged to 0.5°C, Puri received record winter rain in 50 years. Delhi shivered as temperatures plummeted to season’s lowest, while it was the rainiest January for Bengaluru.
On the flip side, staying close to the January’s warmth was Kerala that sizzled amongst highest temperatures observed in ten years. Mumbai woke up to record heat on the New Year’s Day. Parts of Central India were also struggling with above normal temperature which usually begin to enjoy the nip in the air and prepare to welcome the winter season during the first week of the month. Unforeseen, Delhi also recorded its warmest January in 5 years.
The temperatures across North and other parts of India have risen in past couple of days with sunshine providing the necessary relief from chilly nights in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab and hot and humid days in Peninsular India giving huge discomfort to the residents.
So are we looking at breaking out of winter’s icy clutches?
The old-fashioned wintry month is getting over soon. The misery that we have faced in January in past few years and the way we have been spoilt for winter treats in the month was not seen this year. However, the cold weather is expected to linger in North India throughout February.
An active Western Disturbance is approaching the hills of North India and is expected to start affecting weather tonight. The active weather system will give fairly widespread rain and snow over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and scattered rainfall and snow over Uttarakhand in a span of next two days. The influence of this weather system will also percolate to Punjab where light rain will be observed during the abovementioned period.
This weather activity will result in dropping of maximum temperatures, followed by a dip in the minimums. In other words, days will again become cold and chilly nights will prevail over plains of North India during the next one week. Moderate to dense fog will also reappear, especially in Punjab.
And while we wait for winter rain in the national capital city, the forecast for the first week of February is that winter is going to strike back.
Image Credit: qz.com
