Cold wave: North, central India to get colder this week
What's the story
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted a cold wave over northwestern and central India in the next 24 hours. Cold to severe cold conditions are expected to prevail over isolated pockets of Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh for the next two days. The IMD also predicted rainfall for parts of north, central, and northeast India.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The forecast defies the norm in India as per which the mercury starts to rise in the second half of January. India was earlier forecasted to witness an abnormally chilly winter in January and February due to the La Nina—a cold event in the Pacific Ocean that impacts global weather. The weather phenomenon notably brings cold air from Siberia and South China to India.
Cold
Fresh western disturbance forecasted from Friday
For the next two days, the IMD predicted dense to very dense fog during night/morning over parts of Bihar, Odisha, west Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, east Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. A fresh western disturbance will likely affect northwest India from January 21, 2022, it added. "Minimum temperatures are likely to rise by 2-4°C over northwest India during next five days," the IMD said.
Information
'Cyclonic circulation over Kerala in lower tropospheric levels'
"A cyclonic circulation now lies over Kerala and neighborhood in lower tropospheric levels," the IMD bulletin stated. "An induced cyclonic circulation is very likely to form over southwest Rajasthan on 22nd January 2022," it added.
Rainfall
Northeast, north India to witness rainfall this week
"Scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall" is likely across all seven northeastern states between January 20-21. The western Himalayan region—Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand—will likely witness light precipitation during January 17-20, followed by scattered to widespread rainfall/snowfall between January 21-23. Scattered to fairly widespread rainfall is likely over Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, north Rajasthan, and west Uttar Pradesh between January 21-23.
Rainfall
Light rainfall over south India
The IMD further predicted light/moderate rainfall over north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Mahe, Rayalaseema, and interior Tamil Nadu for two-three days. A few places across south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, and north coastal Tamil Nadu are likely to witness light/moderate rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall during the next 24 hours. Isolated hailstorms are likely over east Rajasthan and west Madhya Pradesh between January 21-22.
Information
How was the weather in the past 24 hours?
Most of northwest India witnessed normal minimum temperatures, while Madhya Pradesh recorded above normal minimum temperatures. North and central India witnessed very dense fog, while cold/severe cold day conditions prevailed over parts of the region. Parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh recorded some rainfall.