Plains of Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan and Delhi had a mixed bag of weather conditions for the last few days. While some of the cities have witnessed a rise in the minimum temperatures, few others still go below normal. Delhi, Rohtak, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Chandigarh and Ludhiana have neared the double-digit mark of 10°C. However, Amritsar, Bhatinda, Ferozepur and Karnal still hover around 5-6°C. No further rise in these temperatures is envisaged and rather there could be a marginal drop. Breeze also may pick up to lower the feel-like temperatures over the next 3 days. The day temperatures across the plains have risen to be in the low twenties, above the normal by 2-3°C. A twist in the weather conditions is likely to come up, once again, next week. That will keep the winter flavour, a little longer than expected.
An active western disturbance is approaching the Western Himalayas on 17th Feb. This will be aided by the support system coming up in the plains, almost simultaneously. The combined effect of the duo will revive the winter chill, which seems to be dwindling, as of now. Though it will not amount to the return of cold waves or cold days, typical indicators of sharp winters, but still, the turnaround will extend the winter feel till the end of the month, if not longer.
Plains of North India are largely governed by weather conditions over the mountains. A decent spread of snow across the mountain ranges, not accompanied by rains in the plains, may still trigger a ripple effect. Chilly winds, blowing down the slopes of snow-clad mountains may still reenergize the cool and nip in the air. And, it is not only the mountains getting ‘whiteout’ during the upcoming spell, the plains will have a fair share of widespread moderate to intense activity, lasting for about 3 days. Snow in the hills and rain across the plains will complement each other, to stretch the winter cold for the rest of the month.
Snowfall in the mountains will precede the rainy spell over the plains. The western disturbance will commence the activity on a lighter note on 17th Feb. Rapid pick up in the spread and intensity is anticipated for the next 2 days, on 18th and 19th Feb. Rain and snow in the hills will continue on 20th and 21st Feb, as well, albeit on a weaker note. Peak intensity, with very heavy snowfall over Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, is expected on 19th Feb. Remnant effect across the mountain ranges will continue on 22nd and 23rd also, but on a soft note.
For the plains, the weather activity will start from the extreme northern parts of Punjab on the 18th and spread over the complete region of the state and Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh for the next 3 days till mid-week. The peak activity of the plains will coincide and keep a date with the mountains, on 19th Feb. Foothills of Punjab & Haryana, along with Chandigarh will be trounced heavily on 19th and 20th Feb.
Broad clearance for the plains can be expected from 22nd Feb onwards. As it usually happens, cool air in the wake of the system invariably sweeps the plains, lowering the night temperatures. The heavy snowfall over the mountains will restrict any sharp rise in the day temperatures, as well. Therefore, pleasant weather conditions can still be banked upon to last a little longer and support a decent fair well to the winter season, only in the closing days of the month.