Winter chill to intensify in next few days: IMD

NEW DELHI: Northern India will be in deep chill again in the middle of this week as a fresh bout of snow and rain will make days colder by up to 6 degrees, which will boost the Rabi harvest.

A rain-bearing weather system, called western disturbance, has already struck Kashmir and is heading towards Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and adjoining plains, which may dampen the Republic Day celebrations, when some parts of the capital region would be lashed by thuderstorms and hailstorms.

“An active western disturbance which is approaching is expected to bring rainfall in the northern region. It is already in the Himalayan region, and may affect the weather of the plains also from tomorrow,” said K Sathi Devi, scientist, head of National Weather Forecast, India Meteorology Department.

This will result in widespread rain and snowfall from January 24 to 27, she said. The capital, as a result, is likely to see fairly widespread activity in the form of rainfall or thundershowers from January 24 to 26, Devi added.

“Maximum day temperature will fall by 3 to 6 degrees celsius between January 24 and 26 over the plains,” she said. Punjab, Haryana, West Uttar Pradesh and North Rajasthan are also expected to witness similar rainfall conditions.

Minimum temperatures are likely to rise by 2-3 degrees celsius over northwest India during 24th to 26th and fall by 3 to 5 degrees celsius thereafter, read the department forecast on Monday. Dense fog is likely at isolated places over East Uttar Pradesh and shallow to moderate fog over Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, and a few other north east states during the next two days, the forecast added.