NEW DELHI: Most parts of northwest India and western Uttar Pradesh are set to usher in the New Year on Sunday in the grip of a cold wave and dense fog conditions which are likely to continue with area-specific variations till Wednesday. But the region along with northeast India are likely to experience a relatively warmer winter in January, the India Meteorological Department said.
On the other hand, central India, including MP, and adjoining areas in neighbouring states, will have a colder winter during January, showed a monthly forecast released by IMD on Saturday.
In its short-term forecast, IMD said, “Cold wave conditions in isolated pockets are very likely over Himachal Pradesh on January 1, over Punjab and west Rajasthan till January 4, over Haryana and Chandigarh and east Rajasthan till January 4, over Delhi during January 3-4, and over west UP during January 1-2.” As far as fog conditions are concerned till January 4, the Met department said, “Dense to very dense fog in some/many pockets are very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, UP and in isolated pockets over Bihar.” Slightly less cold conditions during January will, however, not adversely affect rabi crops, including wheat and mustard, as such conditions with minor variations in normal temperatures don’t harm standing crops. Even the less rainfall predicted during winter will not impact farming as rabi (winter sown) crops don’t require much water for irrigation unlike the kharif (summer sown) crops.
“During January, monthly minimum (night) temperatures are most likely to be below-normal (colder) over many parts of central India and adjoining areas of peninsular, east and northwest India. Above normal to normal minimum temperatures are most likely over southern parts of south peninsula, many parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest India,” said IMD director general M Mohapatra.
On day (maximum) temperatures, he said, “Monthly maximum temperatures for January are likely to be below normal over many parts of central and peninsular India. Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest, east and east-central India.”
On the other hand, central India, including MP, and adjoining areas in neighbouring states, will have a colder winter during January, showed a monthly forecast released by IMD on Saturday.
In its short-term forecast, IMD said, “Cold wave conditions in isolated pockets are very likely over Himachal Pradesh on January 1, over Punjab and west Rajasthan till January 4, over Haryana and Chandigarh and east Rajasthan till January 4, over Delhi during January 3-4, and over west UP during January 1-2.” As far as fog conditions are concerned till January 4, the Met department said, “Dense to very dense fog in some/many pockets are very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, UP and in isolated pockets over Bihar.” Slightly less cold conditions during January will, however, not adversely affect rabi crops, including wheat and mustard, as such conditions with minor variations in normal temperatures don’t harm standing crops. Even the less rainfall predicted during winter will not impact farming as rabi (winter sown) crops don’t require much water for irrigation unlike the kharif (summer sown) crops.
“During January, monthly minimum (night) temperatures are most likely to be below-normal (colder) over many parts of central India and adjoining areas of peninsular, east and northwest India. Above normal to normal minimum temperatures are most likely over southern parts of south peninsula, many parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest India,” said IMD director general M Mohapatra.
On day (maximum) temperatures, he said, “Monthly maximum temperatures for January are likely to be below normal over many parts of central and peninsular India. Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest, east and east-central India.”