Image: AI-Skymet
Monsoon withdrawal was slightly ahead of schedule from the plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. The current spell of widespread rainfall over these parts, post-retreat of the monsoon, could easily be termed as unseasonal activity. Notwithstanding the withdrawal of the monsoon, some rains can always occur over these regions, but the spread and intensity of post-monsoon showers this early in October are not very common. Rainfall amounts of about 20 mm at Pathankot–Amritsar, 30–40 mm at Chandigarh–Ambala, and 40–55 mm at Jaipur–Alwar–Sikar are not small in any way, especially after the retreat of the monsoon. There has been rainfall in the low and mid-reaches of the mountains and snowfall over moderately high peaks. Light snow in the higher ranges is quite common around this time of the year, but a sheet of snowfall accompanied by moderate rainfall is surely unusual. This spell is likely to set the stage for the arrival of early winters over these parts.
The rainy spell was under the combined effect of a cyclonic circulation over the plains and an active western disturbance across the mountains. The circulation has now moved over northwest Rajasthan and the Punjab region. The western disturbance is lying over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu & Kashmir. The weather activity over the border areas of Punjab, Rajasthan, and western Haryana seems to have ended. The remaining parts of Punjab, Haryana, and west Uttar Pradesh will experience rain and thundershowers today, albeit of much lower intensity. The remnant effect may even reach mildly over some parts of Delhi/NCR today.
While the plains are expected to have clear weather conditions with fair sunshine and a rise in mercury from tomorrow onwards, the hills will continue to experience weather activity tomorrow as well. The day temperatures in the plains of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi have witnessed an unprecedented drop of 8°C–10°C below normal. Daytime maximum temperatures at Pathankot, Jalandhar, Patiala, Chandigarh, Ambala, Rohtak, Narnaul, Ajmer, Jaipur, and Delhi were all around 8°C below the normal. Amritsar in Punjab recorded a steep fall with temperatures about 11°C below the average. Weather activity in terms of rain and snow will continue over the entire range of northern mountains today and tomorrow. Broad clearance is expected across the region from 9th October onwards, which will persist for at least a week or longer. A sharp drop in night temperatures may follow soon.
