IMD: MERCURY TO DROP BY 4-6°C IN NORTHWEST INDIA AFTER HEAVY RAINS

INTENSE RAIN IS EXPECTED OVER MP AND UP. THE WD THAT CAUSED RAINFALL OVER NORTHWEST INDIA IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EASTWARDS AND CAUSE RAIN, THUNDER

NEW DELHI: Minimum temperatures over northwest India, particularly Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, are likely to drop by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius over the next two-three days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted on Saturday, following an intense wet spell over several parts in the region.

Intense rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy shower is also likely over Western Himalayan region during next 48 hours and over plains of northwest India during next 24 hours, IMD said. It further predicted intense thunderstorm activity will continue over Central India from January 8 to 12 and over Eastern India during January 10 to 13.

“A western disturbance as a cyclonic circulation lies over north Pakistan and neighbourhood with a trough (line of low pressure) aloft. The induced cyclonic circulation is lying over east Rajasthan and neighbourhood at lower tropospheric levels. There is high moisture incursion from Arabian Sea over northwest and adjoining central India, which is likely to continue during next two days. The confluence of winds from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal at lower tropospheric levels is likely over central India during next threefour days,” IMD said in its forecast bulletin on Saturday.

Widespread light to moderate rainfall or snowfall is likely over Western Himalayan region till Sunday and will decrease significantly thereafter. “Isolated very heavy rainfall or snowfall is very likely over Jammu-kashmir-ladakh-gilgit-baltistan-muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh on January 8. The same is very likely over Himachal Pradesh on January 9 and over Uttarakhand on January 8 and 9,” it added.

Widespread rainfall is likely to continue over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh, IMD said, adding it will decrease from Sunday.

M Mohapatra, director general, IMD, said Delhi has already recorded moderate rain due to the ongoing wet spell. “Now gradually rainfall will reduce over western parts of Punjab and Haryana. There was widespread snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. Now intense rain is expected over MP and UP. The WD that caused rainfall over northwest India is expected to move eastwards and cause rainfall, thundershowers,” he said.