Bitter Cold Descends On Northern Plains, Rain And Hailstorms Follow

Mercury has plunged sharply over the plains of North India. More significantly, the minimum temperatures have dropped steeply by 4-6 degrees over most parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan. The national capital and neighbouring Haryana witnessed deep dive of over 6degree at many places. The base observatory of Delhi recorded 5.8degree, the lowest since 20th Jan.  Amritsar dropped to 3.3degree and Hissar also very close with 3.7degree today morning.  Churu in Rajasthan froze to sub zero (-0.5deg) once again since 18^th Jan, when it observed long spell of  below zero temperature for 5 days in a row.

Western disturbance has cleared the mountains and induced cyclonic circulation is also little less marked.  The combination of these 2 systems caused snow in the hills and fairly wide spread rains in the plains. In the wake of western disturbance, freezing northwesterly winds , blowing down the slopes of snow capped hills has plummeted the temperatures. There are mild cold wave conditions in some pockets of North India.  

Clear skies are being witnessed all across plains with fair amount of sunshine today.  However, this break will be just short and sweet. Twist in the weather conditions  is likely tomorrow evening onward. Layer of clouds will descend again over most parts of Punjab, Haryana, North & East Rajasthan and Delhi, late in the evening by tomorrow. This will be followed by rain and thundershowers over these parts on 29^th and 30^th Jan, more intense on the 1^st day. 

Yet another western disturbance is arriving on 28^th Jan over the mountains, accompanied by an active induced cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan.  A deep trough is ideally placed in the upper atmosphere across Pakistan and Rajasthan region, to fortify further the combined influence of these  two weather systems.

Fairly widespread rain and thundershowers are expected, simultaneously over hills and plains of North India. Foothills of Punjab, Haryana, West Uttar Pradesh along with deep areas of these states will be lashed with gusty winds and lightning storms on 29^th and 30^th Jan. Probability of hailstorm is high on 29^th Jan, more intense along  the foothills.  Majha and Doaba region of Punjab will be more vulnerable for inclement weather conditions on account of hailstorm.  National capital and suburbs may also witness hailstorm in some areas.