IMD predicts cold wave in north, northwest India over next 4 days

With temperatures steadily dropping in North India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast cold wave to severe cold wave conditions over Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, parts of Gujarat and north Rajasthan over the next five days. 

Dense to very dense fog, ground frost conditions is likely in some areas, the IMD said. The mercury is predicted to drop by two to four degrees Celsius in most parts of northwest India, adjoining central India and Gujarat over the next four to five days, it said.

The minimum temperature in most parts of east India and Maharashtra may also drop by two to three degrees Celsius over the next four days.

"Cold wave/severe cold wave conditions over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Saurashtra and Kutch during December 17 to December 21; over north Rajasthan during December 18 to December 21; over West Uttar Pradesh during December 19 to December 21 and over Gujarat region on December 19 and 20," the IMD said in a statement.

“Ground frost conditions in the morning hours in isolated pockets very likely over Saurashtra and Kutch, Punjab and Haryana during the next four days,” the IMD said.

In the plains, the IMD declares a cold wave if the minimum temperature dips to 4 degrees Celsius. A cold wave is also declared when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or lower and is 4.5 notches below normal. A severe cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature dips to two degrees Celsius or the departure from normal is more than 6.4 degrees Celsius.

Dense to very dense fog is predicted in the morning hours in isolated pockets over Punjab and Haryana on Friday and Saturday and over northwest Rajasthan, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on Friday.

With PTI inputs