NEW DELHI: Temperatures across large parts of northwest India are set to drop sharply over the next two days following widespread rainfall and heavy snowfall in the western Himalayan region. Thunderstorms with light rain swept the city on Friday due to an intense western disturbance over the Western Himalayan region.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a cold day phenomenon is likely to grip the region, with minimum temperatures expected to fall by 3-5° Celsius over the plains of northwest India, including Delhi, as well as parts of central and western India. The drop is to begin from January 24, after the passage of an intense western disturbance.
In the past 24 hours, heavy snowfall was reported in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, while moderate to widespread rainfall occurred across northwest India. Several areas in the higher reaches of J&K and Himachal witnessed waist-deep snowfall, a sight rarely seen in recent years. The snowfall has been welcomed by horticulturists, as a good snow cover is considered vital for stone fruits, providing a natural source of moisture and nutrients.
This winter has otherwise remained unusually dry due to a prolonged absence of western disturbances. The region last received significant snowfall in the first week of October 2022, raising concerns about water availability.
The impact of the Western Disturbance was also felt in the plains, where thunderstorms accompanied by squally winds were reported. Wind speeds of 60-90 kmph were recorded at isolated places in J&K, Himachal, and Punjab, while gusts of 30-60 kmph affected Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttarakhand on Thursday night and Friday morning. These conditions led to a temporary rise in temperatures by 4°C in many areas.
The IMD has forecast that there will be dense to very dense fog in the morning and night time in pockets of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh over the next two days. Also, cold wave conditions are likely in Himachal and some parts of Punjab and Haryana.