IMD predicts cold wave in northwest India

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Departments (IMD) on Wednesday predicted a cold wave across northwest India including Delhi, with minimum temperatures likely to fall by 2 to 4 degrees.

“Cold wave conditions in isolated pockets over northwest India,” IMD tweeted. It said the minimum temperatures were likely to drop by 2 to 4 degrees from Wednesday over most parts of the region following a wet spell in the next two days.

The agency said a dense fog will engulf Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh at night and early morning during the next two days and over east India during the next three days.

Fairly widespread snowfall and widespread rains were expected due to “western disturbance” in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh from January 4 to 7.

This could also hit Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh on January 5 and 6, it said.

"Over Delhi, the wet spell is almost over. Minimum temperatures will start dropping now gradually. We can expect very cold nights on December 31 and January 1 if the winds are strong and northerly,” said R K Jenamani, a senior scientist.

He said another western disturbance on January 5 is likely to bring rain over Delhi around January 5-6.

The IMD also forecast widespread rainfall and hailstorm in the eastern parts of the country.

“Light/moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with isolated thunderstorm, lightning and hailstorm very likely over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal and Sikkim during the next 24 hours and dry weather thereafter,” it said. (UNI)