Cold wave is expected to hit Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan, and Chandigarh between December 18 and 20, according to the India Meteorological Department. For the next three days, light to moderate rainfall or snow is expected throughout the western Himalayan region, according to the forecast.
Cyclonic Circulation Forming Over Jammu & Neighboring Area
This is because a western disturbance in the form of a cyclonic circulation is forming over Jammu and the surrounding territories, while a new western disturbance in the form of a cyclonic circulation is forming over Afghanistan and neighboring areas, according to the Met.
Light to moderate rain or snowfall is expected in isolated locations in Jammu, Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, and Himachal Pradesh over the next three days, as well as in Uttarakhand on December 16-17, and isolated light rain is expected in northern Punjab, Haryana, and West Uttar Pradesh on December 16.
"On the 16th and 17th of December, we expect mild and scattered rainfall over parts of northwest India." After December 17, temperatures are expected to decline. According to RK Jenamani, senior scientist at the national weather forecasting center, "thick fog is expected only over Punjab today, although we are monitoring fog formation over Delhi as well."
In the plains, a cold wave occurs when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or lower and/or is 4.5 notches below the season's average for two days in a row. When the minimum temperature in the plains falls below 4 degrees Celsius, a cold wave is declared.
During the next five days, IMD predicts light to moderate rainfall in isolated or dispersed locations in Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-Karaikal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and isolated rainfall in Kerala-Mahe. Dry weather is expected to prevail across the rest of the country during this time, and the lowest temperature in northwest and central India is expected to drop by 2-3 degrees in the next few days, according to the forecast.
