The cheerful sun and warmth of the last few days may not last long. Another bout of chilly spell is in the offing. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted fresh Western Disturbance that would affect Western Himalayan region within the next 48 hours. This would result in moderate to heavy snowfall in the region and return of cold wave.
The interaction of Western Disturbance and easterly wave would also cause rain/ thundershower over the northern States, including Delhi besides North-Eastern States, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat within the next two-three days.
Dense to very dense fog is likely in the next two days in most parts of the country. According to experts, such repeated spells of Western Disturbance and rain and snow in north, could stretch winter to the end of February. Western Disturbance originating from the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and Caspian Sea is seen as carriers of drizzle and rain.
According to weather experts, the Western Disturbance will particularly affects Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand from January 20 to 23. Most parts of the States of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan will be covered by dense fog (visibility from 500 metres to 50 metres) or even extremely dense fog (visibility less than 50 metres).
The intensity of the fog will decrease between January 20-23, only to intensify again from January 24 onward. The minimum temperatures will remain in the range of 2 degrees C to 4 degrees C and 5 degrees C to 8 degrees C in most parts of the country.
On Sunday, cold wave continued unabated in Punjab and Haryana. Narnaul in Haryana was the coldest place in both the States as it recorded a minimum temperature of 3.1 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal. Amritsar in Punjab shivered at 3.5 degrees while Chandigarh registered a low at 5.8 degrees.
Intense cold wave conditions continued across Jammu & Kashmir with Srinagar at minus 3.7 degrees C. While the minimum temperature in leh town was minus 15 degrees C, in Kargil town it was minus 15.6 degrees C. According to weather scientists, the present cold wave conditions are likely to continue till Wednesday after which rain and snowfall is expected in the State.