Winter has finally turned chilly in the northern parts of the country, including the national Capital which recorded a low of 3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature may dip further and the impact of cold wave is likely to persist at least till January 13. Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and many parts of Uttar Pradesh are affected.
The hills of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and their adjoining areas are expected to receive more rain and snow due to the impact of a western disturbance. Within the next 48 hours, this will move eastwards leading to reversal of winds from southeasterly to northwesterly or northerly, said the IMD sources. This will result in clear skies, dry and cold winds from north which will significantly reduce the minimum temperatures.
Gulmarg, in north Kashmir, recorded minimum temperature of minus 12.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, which is five degrees below normal. According to IMD records, this was the lowest night temperature since January 2012, when the mercury had plummeted to minus 16.5 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam in south Kashmir, another tourist hot spot, too experienced the season’s lowest night temperature at minus 9.2 degrees Celsius; six degrees less than the normal temperature.
In Himachal Pradesh, Keylong, Kalpa in Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded a low of minus 9.7 degrees and minus 7 degrees Celsius respectively.
Cold conditions prevail in major parts of Rajasthan too, with mercury dipping below freezing point at three places. The hill station of Mount Abu chilled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius. In the plains, Churu was the coldest in the State recording a minimum of minus 0.3 degrees Celsius. Jaipur, on the other hand, recorded a minimum of 3.8 degrees Celsius, which is at least 4-5 degrees below normal.
Punjab and Haryana too are reeling under cold wave. Bright sunshine did not deter icy cold winds from sweeping the terrains. As per IMD data, Narnaul in Haryana recorded minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal. Ambala was at 4.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal; while Hisar faced cold at 2.4 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh too witnessed winter chill at 2.4 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal. Amritsar braced up to cold conditions at 0.9 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal.
Mumbai too experienced cold conditions, with the city witnessing the lowest temperature of 12.5 degrees Celsius, first in last the three years. Cold wind blowing from north-west as well as from the north that has resulted in lowering of the temperature, said the IMD sources.