IMD Rain Alert: Due to a strong Western Disturbance affecting Northwest India, cloudy sky and light rain have been predicted in the national capital Delhi for the next two days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) gave this information on Wednesday. Dense fog enveloped the national capital on Wednesday morning, reducing visibility to 50 meters and affecting road, rail and air traffic. An IMD official said that a layer of dense to very dense fog prevailed from Punjab to Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. According to IMD, visibility at Palam Observatory near Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi was recorded at 50 metres.
A railway spokesperson said 95 trains were running late due to fog. At the same time, Delhi International Airport Limited tweeted, “Necessary procedures are underway to continue flight operations in low visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Passengers are advised to contact the respective airlines for the latest information regarding flights.”
Let us tell you that the minimum temperature was recorded at 5.8 degree Celsius at Safdarjung Observatory, the main meteorological center of the national capital. According to IMD, there is a possibility of cloudy sky and light rain in Delhi on Thursday. However, the minimum temperature in the city could rise to nine degrees Celsius. The department says that due to the end of the effect of western disturbance and cold north-westerly winds coming from the snow-capped mountains, cold wave is expected to move again in the plains of north-west India in the coming days.
According to IMD data, Delhi witnessed severe cold wave from January 5 to January 9, which is the second longest period in the month in a decade. A senior IMD official said that more than 50 hours of dense fog have been recorded so far this month, which is the highest since 2019.
The outbreak of cold wave continued in Delhi NCR and entire North India on Wednesday with severe cold. According to the Meteorological Department, people got relief from the cold due to sunshine in the day, but the outbreak of cold wave increased in the evening. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 5.9 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, and the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 19 degrees Celsius.
Rain can provide relief from cold
According to the Meteorological Center, there is a possibility of rain or drizzle in the area in the next 24 hours, due to which there can be some relief from drought in the plains from the mountains. This time, due to lack of rain or snow on the mountains, the water level may decrease in summer. After the rain, there can be relief from the outbreak of severe cold. There was some increase in the minimum temperature in the last 24 hours and Chandigarh recorded nine degrees Celsius amid severe cold. In Punjab, it was five degrees in Adampur, nine degrees in Ludhiana and Patiala, eight degrees in Pathankot, four degrees in Bathinda, seven degrees in Faridkot, four degrees in Moga, six degrees in Gurdaspur and six to nine degrees in the state.
Mausal took a turn in Shimla as well
The weather has changed in Shimla as well. The sky has been overcast since morning. After the Western Disturbance becomes active, the weather will remain bad for the next five days. A red alert has been issued for heavy snowfall in some high altitude areas of Kannur, Lahaul Spiti and Kullu districts, while in higher reaches of Shimla, Chamba, Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur districts, Director of Meteorological Center Shimla Surendra Pal said. There may also be snowfall for the next three days. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy snowfall in Chamba’s Teesa and Bhatiyat for the next two days.