The shortfall in amount of rain and snowfall in the Western Himalayan region has led to a less 'cold winter' in Delhi and North India this year. Night temperatures are yet to touch its lowest of the season again in Delhi after the night of 30th December when it had dropped to 2.4 degrees. Since then, night temperatures in Delhi have been revolving around the average of 7.8 degrees. In fact night temperature rose to 10.2 degrees on Wednesday.
Temperature comparison between the month January from last year to of that of this year makes it easy to conclude that the winter conditions that we are experiencing at the moment in northwest plains are in fact warmer than last year. Last year, Delhi recorded its lowest minimum of 1.9 degrees on 6th of January
Jammu & Kashmir which usually receives good amounts of snow and rainfall has received 23% less compared to the average during the period of the last week of December. From 1st of October till 31st of December, Jammu & Kashmir recorded 27% less rain and snow than the average. It recorded just over 96 mm of rain compared to the normal of 131 mm.
Similarly Himachal Pradesh recorded a shortfall of 43% in rain and snow. The state receives 108.2 mm of rain and snow on an average but it recorded just over 61 mm since 1st of October till 31st of December.
Even Uttarkhand has witnessed a large difference between the normal rainfall during the same period as above. Against the normal of 89.6 mm, it has received 36.2 mm of rainfall.
Due to lack of snowfall, cold northerly winds have not been able to drop night temperatures significantly in Delhi. There has been only one instance when night temperature in Delhi recorded around 2 degrees and that too in the month of December.
Photograph by Pankaj Singh
