The weather across North India remains extremely cold as icy winds from the mountains have gripped the plains. States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are facing a continuous drop in temperature. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a fresh alert for the national capital, warning residents of sudden weather changes including strong winds and lightning.
Zero Visibility and Cold Wave Update
The impact of the cold wave is visible on the roads and in the sky. Heavy fog has covered several cities, making travel difficult for the common man. At 6:30 AM today, visibility dropped to zero in cities like Adampur, Ambala, Kanpur, Bareilly, Prayagraj, and Gwalior. In Delhi, the situation was similar with visibility recorded at just 50 meters in Safdarjung and 100 meters in Palam.
The temperature in all districts of the hill states, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, has stayed below 10 degrees Celsius following heavy snowfall. This cold is travelling downwards to the plains. The weather department estimates that the minimum temperature in the plains will drop further by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in the next three days.
Warnings for Delhi and Other States
The IMD has shared important information regarding the weather conditions for the coming days. A Western Disturbance is active, which is causing these changes.
- Delhi Alert: A warning has been issued for lightning and gusty winds blowing at a speed of 30-40 kmph, which may reach up to 50 kmph.
- Hill States: A ‘Yellow Alert’ is in place for Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, predicting rainfall and snow with thunderstorms.
- Uttar Pradesh: There is a possibility of hailstorms in some parts of the state due to the weather disturbance.
- Air Quality: The AQI in Delhi-NCR remains in the ‘Very Poor’ category (300+) due to the fog and low wind speed.
