Cold Wave Grips Delhi-NCR; Orange Alert Issued for Dense Fog and Isolated Rainfall
- Posted on January 13, 2025
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
- 83 Views
Delhi-NCR faces a cold wave with dense fog and isolated rainfall, prompting an orange alert from the IMD. Western disturbances may bring rain and snow to northern states, while air quality remains poor. Kashmir endures "Chillai-Kalan," with harsh winter conditions persisting until mid-January. Temperature fluctuations are expected in coming days.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for dense fog in Delhi-NCR, warning of cold wave conditions and isolated rainfall in the region on Monday. Morning temperatures dipped to 7°C, while the maximum is expected to hover around 19°C.
Delhi recorded a high of 17.3°C on Sunday, two notches below the seasonal average. The cold conditions were further exacerbated by poor air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the "poor" to "very poor" category. Anand Vihar station reported an AQI of 374 early Monday morning, highlighting the challenges posed by pollution during winter.
A fresh western disturbance is expected to bring rainfall and snowfall over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand starting Tuesday night. Isolated rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is predicted for Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi-NCR, and Uttar Pradesh on January 15 and 16.
Dense to very dense fog conditions are likely to persist in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh. In Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, dense fog is anticipated in isolated areas, affecting visibility and travel.
In Kashmir, the "Chillai-Kalan" period continues, with the harshest winter conditions expected until January 18. While the weather is predicted to remain mostly dry, light snow may occur in isolated higher reaches on January 15 and 16.
Also Read: IMD Warns of Heavy Rain in Tamil Nadu, Issues Yellow Alert
The IMD forecasts a gradual drop in minimum temperatures by 2-3°C in Northwest and Central India over the next two days, followed by a 2-4°C rise thereafter.
