A severe cold wave has gripped northern India, with sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall disrupting daily life across hill states and Union Territories (UTs) like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for extreme cold alongside dense fog across several regions, including Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
Key highways and roads have been blocked due to significant snowfall, with rain compounding the chill felt across the plains. The Central Pollution Control Board reported 'very poor' air quality index (AQI) levels across Delhi, including readings of 375 in Jahangirpuri and 372 in Ashok Vihar. Although the minimum temperature dipped to 9 degrees Celsius, it is forecasted to rise to 23 degrees Celsius, providing slight relief.
Intense cold waves have prompted the meteorological department to issue orange alerts for Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur, and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh, effective for four days starting Monday. Light rainfall across Punjab and Haryana has also contributed to lower temperatures, with forecasts predicting even greater drops over the coming days.
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have witnessed heavy snowfall, reinforcing conditions where temperatures remain below freezing. On one recent day, the entire Kashmir Valley recorded sub-zero readings, with Pahalgam dropping to minus 7.8 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest spot. Srinagar's temperature also plunged to minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, presenting severe winter challenges, though daytime conditions have offered slight relief to Jammu.
Uttarakhand, too, has felt the impact of the winter weather, with snowfall continuing at higher altitudes. Critical travel routes like the Gangotri Highway and the Joshimath-Badrinath route remained blocked due to heavy snow accumulation, prompting meteorologists to warn of another weather disturbance expected on Friday and Saturday.
Rajasthan faced light rainfall on Tuesday, which resulted in a pronounced temperature drop alongside dense morning fog, reducing visibility to under 50 meters in places like Alwar. Jaipur and Jodhpur reported similar foggy conditions, whereas Punjab has issued yellow alerts for cold waves and dense fog until December 27, coupled with light rain expected across several districts. The temperature in Pathankot fell to as low as 4.6 degrees Celsius.
According to the IMD, active Western Disturbances are anticipated to impact weather across Northwest and Central India starting on December 26. This may lead to rainfall and thunderstorms, particularly affecting southern India, though severe cold conditions are expected to persist particularly across Himachal Pradesh and other nearby states. Areas like Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu-Kashmir are also braced for harsh weather conditions.
Dense fog is predicted to cover isolated zones of Bihar and Rajasthan during late night and early morning hours until December 26. A wide geographic stretch, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Tripura, could experience similar fog conditions stretching through the respective periods.
Rainfall predictions according to the Met Department show light showers, along with thunderstorms predicted on various December dates across multiple states. Southern regions like Karaikal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry may also witness northernly rain systems impacting their weather on December 25 and 26. Scattered thunderstorms are noted for Gujarat and Rajasthan during December 26 and 27, with forecasts extending to regions like Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh by the end of December.
The Weather Bureau noted isolated to scattered rains and potential snowfall across the Western Himalayan region on December 27 and 28 with predictions of light snowfall over higher areas of Jammu-Kashmir. There are alerts for hailstorms predicted for parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, with conditions for severe weather expected to linger.
Daily life is being significantly affected by this extreme weather. Reports indicate the unfortunate loss of four lives due to vehicle skidding amid the harsh conditions. Pollution levels saw improvement following the recent heavy rains, though the persistent weather still complicates daily activities across Delhi and NCR.
Residents are advised to stay alert as conditions persist, with forecasts hinting at continuing effects of Western disturbances, cold waves, and rain activity, marking significant shifts across the climatic scenarios within the country.
