Brace up for rain, thunderstorms, and cold wave across North, West, and Central India

BY PC Bureau

Delhi and large parts of North, West, and Central India are bracing for rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds starting Friday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weather disturbance stems from a Western Disturbance—a trough in the middle tropospheric westerlies—which is expected to interact with easterly winds over central India. This interaction will draw significant moisture from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, intensifying rainfall on December 27 and 28.

Weather Forecast: https://youtu.be/8QiyUYJ1ME8

दैनिक मौसम परिचर्चा (26.12.2024)

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— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) December 26, 2024

Regional Weather Impacts

1. Western Himalayan Region:
   • Scattered to widespread snowfall and rain are forecast for December 27 and 28.
   • Potential disruptions to transportation and daily life are expected.
2. Plains and Central India:
   • Isolated to scattered showers with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (30-50 km/h) are likely in:
     • Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi
     • West Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan
     • Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, and parts of Madhya Pradesh on December 27 and 28.
3. Hailstorms Threat:
   • Thunderstorms with hailstorms are expected in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Gujarat on December 27.
   • Similar conditions may affect Madhya Pradesh on December 27 and 28.
4. Dense Fog Alerts:
   • Dense fog during late night and early morning hours is likely in:
     • Himachal Pradesh (December 26 and 29)
     • Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi (December 26 and December 28-31)
     • Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, and Meghalaya (December 26)
     • Rajasthan (December 28-31).

Cold Wave and Temperature Trends

The IMD forecasts a drop in temperatures by about 2°C on December 27 and 28, followed by a gradual rise of 2-3°C in Northwest India. Delhi recorded a low of 9.6°C on Thursday and is expected to experience cold day conditions in the coming days.

Cold day alerts have been issued for:

• December 27 and 28: Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab
• December 28-31: Rajasthan

A cold wave alert has been issued for isolated pockets in Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab on December 26.

Delhi Weather and Pollution

1. Weather:
   • The national capital will witness generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rain on December 27 and 28.
   • Moderate to dense fog is expected across parts of Delhi.
2. Pollution:
   • The air quality index (AQI) improved to the ‘very poor’ category at 342, from the earlier ‘severe’ category. An AQI of 301-400 indicates ‘very poor’ air quality, while values above 400 are classified as ‘severe’ or ‘severe plus’.

Residents are advised to prepare for travel disruptions, adverse weather, and fluctuating air quality as the season’s first major storm unfolds.