New Delhi, The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts the arrival of two feeble western disturbances (WDs), expected to bring light isolated rainfall or snowfall to the Western Himalayan region. Regions including high-altitude areas of Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh, yet to witness the first snowfall this season, are likely to be affected from Thursday to Tuesday.
The approaching WDs have also contributed to the dispersal of fog across India, bringing sunshine after smog disrupted air and rail traffic for several days this month. Although dense fog has abated in Rajasthan, the National Capital Region, and parts of Punjab, IMD suggests that fog may persist in some parts of North India for the next two days.
IMD Director-General M Mohapatra stated, “There is a change in weather due to approaching WDs, and fog has lifted from some areas, particularly Delhi, Rajasthan, and the neighboring areas. But we are not saying that the fog will be cleared completely. We can expect fog for a couple of more days and hence need to be prepared.” He added that precipitation can be anticipated in the higher reaches of the Western Himalayan region due to the WDs.
Private weather forecaster Skymet Weather’s Vice President (Climate and Meteorology) Mahesh Palawat noted a gradual end to dense fog and a marginal increase in both minimum and maximum temperatures. Palawat stated, “After the WDs move away, there will be a minor drop in temperatures, but nothing like the past week.”
Strong winds of 120-130 km per hour over Bangladesh and adjoining Tripura are expected to bring light rainfall to Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and northeast India in the next two days.
With parts of India experiencing nearly 100% rain deficiency in January following a deficit in December, the absence of strong WDs has been attributed to cold wave conditions, impacting the Rabi (winter) crop. The unusual weather pattern is linked to global warming, Arctic Sea ice melting, or natural variability, affecting Himalayan glaciers and water resources in the region.
Minimum temperatures, ranging from 3-6°C across plains of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, parts of Uttar Pradesh, isolated pockets of northwest Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, have been below normal by 2-4°C. Kanpur recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 3°C in the region on Thursday.