The Hindu Business Line : Mercury may test freezing point in Delhi

Cold northwesterlies are driving down mercury fast in the National Capital Region just ahead of the arrival of a relieving western disturbance triggering fears that New Delhi might be bracing to hit zero degree Celsius by Friday night for the first time during the season.

The last time the metropolis saw temperature plumb to testing the freezing point was in 2006. But with the sub-tropical jet located to south of the Himalayas, the north, northwest and central India have been witnessing a barrage of cold northwesterlies penetrate the plains for sometime now.

RECORD LOW

The record low would hold only for one night (Friday), because the arrival of the western disturbance would pump up the mercury level to around 7 degree Celsius the very next day. Light showers have also been forecast for Delhi with the westerly system impacting the Himalayas and draining its moisture over the plains.

An India Meteorological Department (IMD) update said that the current meteorological analysis suggested that cold northwesterly winds would prevail over northwest India for two more days from Thursday. Under this scenario, minimum temperatures are likely to fall by 2-3 degree Celsius over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan till Saturday.

GROUND FROST

Ground frost conditions are likely over some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan during the next two nights. The fresh western disturbance is likely to cause scattered to fairly widespread precipitation over the western Himalayan region.

Isolated to scattered rain/thundershowers are also likely over Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan and Delhi for three days from Saturday. The southwesterly winds associated with the western disturbance will help raise the minimum temperatures and lift the cold wave conditions.

RAIN IN EAST

On Wednesday, a cyclonic circulation lay over Uttarakhand and neighbourhood. Another circulation over east Madhya Pradesh and neighbourhood too, persisted. A trough of low pressure extended from Assam and Meghalaya to the north Bay of Bengal.

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