NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast cold wave conditions to continue its grip over Northern, Eastern, and Central India during the next few days.
According to the Met department, the minimum temperatures in Northwest India are expected to drop by 2-3°Celsius in the coming days.
Cold to severe cold wave conditions are likely to persist in isolated areas of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, East and West Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Jharkhand, and Odisha over the next three-four days, it added.
As per the weatherman, cold wave occurs when the minimum temperature at a particular weather station drops significantly below normal—specifically by 4.5-6.4°C or more—and when the absolute temperature reaches or falls below certain thresholds (such as ≤10°C in the plains or ≤0°C in the hills).
Currently, cold wave and severe cold wave conditions have al ready been reported in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, with cold wave conditions affecting isolated pockets of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh since November 9.
The IMD has observed that minimum temperatures range from 7-10°C in various regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, northern Haryana, Uttarakhand, East Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh. In these areas, minimum temperatures have dropped below normal by 5.1°C or more, creating potential health hazards.
Additionally, temperatures in Telangana are expected to fall by 3-4°C for two-three days, with no significant changes afterward. The IMD has warned that the sudden decline in minimum temperatures could increase the likelihood of various illnesses. “Do not ignore shivering; it is the first sign that the body is losing heat. Get indoors,” read a health advisory issued by the weather office.
In its Agromet advisory, the IMD recommended light and frequent irrigation for standing crops in the evening to protect them from low temperature stresses or cold injuries.
Shivering
Minimum temperatures in northwest India set to drop by 2-3°C
Cold to severe cold wave conditions likely to persist in isolated areas of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, UP, MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Odisha over the next 3-4 days
Minimum temperatures range from 7-10°C in states including J&K, Ladakh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, northern Haryana, Uttarakhand and others
Agromet advisory: Light and frequent irrigation recommended for standing crops in the evening