Delhi braces for biting cold wave; IMD issues orange alert
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert in Delhi as biting cold waves gripped the national capital. Delhi on Thursday recorded the lowest minimum temperature of the season so far, with the mercury dropping to 3.5 degree Celsius. Weather experts have attributed the dropping temperatures to widespread snowfall in the Himalayas and chilly winds blowing toward the plains. Here are more details.
Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD's regional forecasting center said that the Western Himalayas recorded widespread snowfall due to strong western disturbances, and frosty winds have been blowing toward plains, thus causing the temperature to fall. The IMD declares a cold wave in the plains when the minimum temperature is 10 degree Celsius or lower, and 4.5 notches less than normal for two consecutive days.
"However, for small areas such as Delhi, a cold wave can be declared if the criteria is fulfilled even for a day," Srivastava explained. Meanwhile, cold wave conditions have prevailed in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, with areas like Keylong, Manali, and Kalpa recording sub-zero temperatures recently. The weather remained dry there, but the minimum temperature decreased by one to two notches.
Furthermore, the minimum temperature at the popular tourist destination of Manali was recorded at minus 1.2 degree Celsius. Other places like Dalhousie and Kufri recorded the minimum temperature at 0.4 and 1.4 degree Celsius, respectively. In Himachal Pradesh, the highest temperature was recorded in Solan at 21 degree Celsius. Neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana have also witnessed below normal minimum temperatures.
Reportedly, no major change in minimum temperatures will be witnessed in the remaining parts of the country over the next two days. However, dense fog will be seen in isolated parts in north-eastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram over the next three days.
