The national capital continued to reel under severe cold on Wednesday morning too as the minimum temperatures stayed at eight degree celsius. Dense fog accompanied the cold wave as the minimum temperatures fell below that of hill stations Dharamshala and Nainital.
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted improvement in the cold wave conditions in northern parts of country, including Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, for the next three days till the New Year eve.
The cold wave, caused due to the impact of an impending western disturbance, will return by January 1 as the winds will turn north-westerly again. The cold wave will also bring dense fog.
"We can expect a very brief respite with minimum and maximum temperatures likely to rise by 1-2°C. Around New Year’s Eve, extreme cold may not set in but temperatures will drop once again from January 1 or 2," Mahesh Palawat, the vice president of climate and meteorology at Skymet Weather, was quoted by Hindustan Times.
He added that the 'sunshine hours' may increase till December 30 and the winds will die down, triggering a rise in temperatures. Though the increase will be marginal, it will provide a much-needed respite. Visibility may also improve during this period, he added.
While Palam in Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 7.8°C, Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 8.4°C, said IMD.
According to meterologists, the western disturbance may bring light to moderate snowfall to Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir too.
"It will impact the most around December 29 and once it passes, cold will intensify once again since the north-westerly winds bring cold air from the snowclad Himalayan region," RK Jenamani, senior scientist, national weather forecasting centre, IMD, told Hindustan Times.
Foggy Tuesday
Besides the national capital, dense fog conditions prevailed on Tuesday in parts of National Capital Region, Haryana, Punjab, west Uttar Pradesh, and north Rajasthan too.
The visibility fell to just 50 metres in Delhi, causing traffic disruptions. Over 100 flights were delayed and a few diverted to Jaipur while several trains were also impacted.
The entire Himachal Pradesh was under a cold wave on Tuesday as temperatures dropped to below freezing point at most places.
The minimum temperatures dipped 10-12 degrees below freezing point in high altitude tribal areas, mountain passes, and other higher ranges, while several other places reeled under lower reaches of sub-zero temperature. Fog shrouded many parts of Punjab and Haryana where intense cold weather conditions continued on Tuesday.
