Delhi weather update: Cold wave conditions persist across north India as mercury plummets, IMD predicts temperatures to…

Delhi weather news: Delhi continued to reel under cold wave-like conditions as severe cold conditions prevailed across northern India(BHARAT) on Monday, with minimum temperatures slipping below season’s normal.

Dense fog engulfs Delhi as max temps drop

According to India(BHARAT) Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi’s maximum and minimum temperatures ranged between 16 to 18 degrees Celsius and 8 to 11 degrees Celsius, respectively, even though the minimum at few places was above normal, while maximum temperatures were below normal at most places.

The national capital continued to be enveloped by a thick layer of fog, affecting visibility, with Palam recording the lowest visibility at 150 metres due to moderate fog at 8 am, which gradually improved to 400 metres by 9.30 am in shallow fog, as per the IMD.

The IMD has forecast dense to very dense fog across the northern states until December 27, while temperatures in Delhi on Christmas Day (December 25), are likely to remain ‘near normal’ with mainly clear skies and shallow fog in the morning.

Punjab, Haryana shiver under cold wave

Nearby Punjab and Haryana continued to reel under the effects of the cold spell on Monday, though minimum temperatures were a few degrees above seasonal averages in several areas.

According to the local meteorological department, Amritsar recorded a minimum of 9.7 degrees Celsius, six notches above normal. Ludhiana registered a low of 7.2 degrees Celsius, one notch above the average. In Haryana, Ambala recorded a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. Hisar recorded a low of 8.9 degrees Celsius, while Karnal registered 9 degrees Celsius, both two notches above normal.

More snowfall expected in Kashmir

Meanwhile, Kashmir, which received fresh snowfall in higher reaches and rainfall in plains as ‘Chillai Kalan’ commenced on December 21, saw an increase in night temperatures and a dip in day temperatures, with the Meteorological Department forecasting another spell of snow or rain over the next 12 hours.

According to the Met forecast, moderate snowfall is expected in upper reaches of Kashmir Valley, while plains will likely receive another spell of light rainfall.

The weather office has forecast fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall and snowfall are likely over Jammu and Kashmir from December 23 to 27 and again on the 28th, with isolated to scattered rainfall and snowfall expected over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on December 22 and 28.

Foggy conditions to persist in Delhi

The IMD’s forecast indicates that dense to very dense fog conditions are anticipated during night and morning hours, especially over Punjab until December 27 and over Uttar Pradesh until December 23, as well as from December 25 to 28; over Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi from December 24 to 27.

Furthermore, dense fog is likely to persist in isolated areas of the western Himalayan region from December 22 to 27; over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi and Uttar Pradesh from December 22 to 29; and over Bihar and Odisha from December 22 to 27.

Dense fog will also affect Rajasthan, north Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and north Madhya Pradesh until December 23.

(With PTI inputs)