Chilly Winds and Rain Create Cool Conditions in Delhi; Snow Expected in Shimla

New Delhi, Dec 27 (NationPress) A wet New Year’s Eve seems likely for visitors in the northern hills, as the weather in Delhi and surrounding states such as J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan shifted dramatically on Friday, with rain and cold winds combining to produce a chilly atmosphere.

On Friday, rainfall/snowfall was reported across various regions of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated that due to a western disturbance, fairly widespread rainfall/snowfall along with thunderstorms and lightning is anticipated over the Western Himalayan Region on Saturday, with isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall likely over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

In a cautionary advisory for New Year celebrants in hill stations within Himachal Pradesh, the IMD has forecast cold wave conditions in certain areas of the state from December 29 to 31. On Friday, Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of 1 degree Celsius. On Saturday and Sunday, temperatures could plummet to zero in the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, as per the IMD's predictions.

In Delhi, early morning light rain and drizzle contributed to a drop in temperature, causing difficulties for commuters, particularly those on two-wheelers. The national capital recorded a minimum temperature of 12 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 20 degrees Celsius on Friday.

The steady drizzle persisted until the evening, intermittently continuing for over 10 hours after commencing early in the morning. Delhi's Safdarjung and Ayanagar weather stations reported visibility of less than 200 metres until Friday morning.

On Friday, light rain was also documented across various parts of the NCR, accompanied by fog that resulted in reduced visibility.

The IMD has forecasted a "thunderstorm with rain" for Delhi on Saturday, predicting additional showers for the city. The weather department has issued an orange alert for light to moderate rainfall with light thunderstorms and lightning.

Cold Day conditions are highly likely on Saturday in Delhi and isolated areas of Chandigarh-Haryana and Uttarakhand.

Moderate fog (visibility 200-499 metres) was reported in scattered areas of Delhi and Rajasthan until Friday morning. Visibility of less than 200 metres was observed in Punjab’s Amritsar and Halwara, East Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, West Rajasthan’s Churu, and East Rajasthan’s Udaipur.

In its national cold wave and fog forecast, the IMD stated that on Friday morning, minimum temperatures were below zero degrees Celsius in many regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh; 10-15 degrees Celsius in Northwest, central, and eastern India; and 12-18 degrees Celsius across numerous parts of Central, West, and East India.

In the northern plains, the lowest recorded minimum temperature was 5.4 degrees Celsius in Churu (West Rajasthan) on Friday morning. There has been an increase of 2-4 degrees Celsius in minimum temperatures across numerous regions of Northwest India adjacent to central India since Thursday morning.

On Saturday, scattered rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (wind speed 30-50 kmph) is expected over East Uttar Pradesh, West Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, interior Maharashtra, and the Gujarat Region, according to the IMD.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the plains experienced rain starting Friday morning after a long dry spell. Srinagar recorded minus 7.3 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg minus 6, and Pahalgam minus 8 as the minimum temperatures on Friday.

Jammu city recorded 8 degrees Celsius, Katra town 7.4, Batote 2.1, Banihal minus 1.8, and Bhaderwah minus 0.6 as the minimum temperatures.

Residents in the Doda district welcomed the rain, marking the end of a dry spell that they claimed had been causing illnesses among residents.

Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir appeared equally delighted. A local resident expressed, "After a long time, rain has finally arrived in Jammu and Kashmir. It has been months since the last rainfall, and today there is a sense of joy across the entire region.”

“While the plains in the state are experiencing rain, the higher mountainous regions are receiving snow. We are grateful to the Almighty, and we hope this pattern of rain and snow continues for several months so that farmers and orchard owners can find relief. This will enhance crop and agricultural conditions," said the resident.