Cold wave in NCR, avoid alcohol in the run-up to the New Year celebrations: IMD

New Delhi: Don’t drink alcohol in the run-up to the New Year celebrations and be prepared for flu-like symptoms. That’s the advice from the weather office, which says a severe cold wave is in the offing, and having drinks will make you even colder.

Minimum temperatures will first rise 2-3 degrees until Sunday in North India, then plunge up to 5 degrees in the following days as rain and snow from a western disturbance will deep-freeze the Himalayas and make northern and north-western India much colder.

"Don't drink alcohol. It reduces your body temperature," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement issued on Friday. The weather office also warned people that flu-like symptoms, stuffy nose and nosebleed will increase as the winter intensifies.


Other suggested actions included the consumption of vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables and regular use of moisturisers to counter the effects of the extremely cold weather in North India.

The week following Christmas might see the capital region's roads covered in frost, as the weather gets colder.

"Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are likely in isolated pockets over Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and cold wave conditions in isolated pockets over Uttar Pradesh, north Rajasthan and north Madhya Pradesh from 28th-29th December 2020," the IMD said.

A western disturbance will bring heavy snowfall to Jammu and Kashmir, which will bring icy winds to sub-Himalayan regions.

"Ground frost conditions are likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and north Rajasthan also from 28th-29th December 2020," the IMD further added.

Additionally, dense fog is forecast for the morning of December 29 in Delhi, which might hamper visibility and the functioning of the airport.

States in North India enjoyed a brief spell of warm weather in the past few days, a welcome break from the single-digit temperature it has seen for much of December.

Last Sunday, temperatures in Delhi dipped to 3.4 degrees C, the lowest figure for this year's winter season.