New Delhi:
With temperatures rising briefly in northern India this week, January 2023 could go down in the books. As the coldest yet for the region, a meteorologist predicted, with temperatures in the plains dropping to -4 degrees Celsius next week.
Severe cold is on the horizon between January 14 and 19 and may peak between January 16. And 18, Navdeep Dahiya, founder of Live Weather of India, an online weather platform, tweeted.
And while light rain in the national capital may bring some relief from the freezing temperatures for a few days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also. Said cold front conditions are very likely in isolated pockets over Delhi and its neighboring states from Saturday.
While he hedged his bets, saying there could be some change in the outcome. With three days to go and fog playing an important role,. The meteorologist warned of high temperatures in the single digits and “frosty mornings” or “coldblast” days.
“Also, this is a historic run of 11 days in January so far and the next few days look really cold, #January 2023 could. Be the coldest on record – maybe so far for the 21st century?” Mr. Dahiya tweeted.
After bone-chilling nights for the past few weeks, the IMD predicted only temporary relief. For residents of northwest India from the bitter cold this week.
An active Western Disturbance is expected to add 2-4 degrees Celsius to minimum temperatures over the Northwest Plains till Friday. But it later warned of fresh outbreaks of icy cold in the national capital.
Days after recording the third-worst cold spell in 23 years, Delhi’s minimum temperature on Thursday settled at 9.3 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season’s average. According to the IMD, the maximum temperature is expected to be around 19 degrees Celsius.
“Similar conditions were experienced in 2006 when the minimum temperature was recorded at 1.9 degrees Celsius. In 2013, there was a similar cold spell,” IMD Meteorologist RK Jenamani told news agency ANI.
Mr Jenamani said that Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh. And North Rajasthan are also likely to witness drizzle and light rain in the next few days.
“The Himalayan states including Jammu and Kashmir, and especially Kashmir, may experience heavy rain or snow on January 12. Himachal and Uttarakhand may also experience rain or snow between January 11 and 14,” he added.
