The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for dense fog in isolated areas of Delhi and the NCR region on Monday, as a cold wave continues to affect the region. According to the IMD, the dense fog is likely to persist in some areas, while isolated rainfall activity is expected in Delhi.
The maximum temperature in Delhi on Sunday was recorded at 17.3 degrees Celsius, which is two degrees below the seasonal average. The IMD predicts that on Monday, the maximum temperature will rise to around 19 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to drop to 7 degrees Celsius.
The ongoing cold wave has resulted in poor visibility in some parts of the city, leading to disruptions in daily activities. The dense fog is also likely to affect road traffic and air travel in the region, as temperatures continue to dip. The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi on Monday was recorded in the “poor” to “very poor” category, with Anand Vihar station reporting an AQI of 374 at 8 a.m. On Sunday, the AQI was in the “poor” category, with a reading of 273 at 6 p.m.
In addition to the cold wave in Delhi, a fresh western disturbance is expected to bring isolated to scattered rainfall and snowfall activity to Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand over the next three days. The IMD has forecast thunderstorms and lightning, along with isolated rainfall, over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi-NCR, and Uttar Pradesh on January 15 and 16.
The weather system is also predicted to cause a gradual fall in minimum temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius across Northwest and Central India in the next 48 hours, followed by a rise in temperatures by 2-4 degrees Celsius in the subsequent days.
Dense fog conditions are also expected in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh. In Jammu and Kashmir, the weather is expected to remain mostly cloudy and dry until January 18, with light snow expected in isolated higher reaches on January 15 and 16.
As cold conditions continue to affect the region, the IMD advises residents to take precautions, including staying updated on weather forecasts and exercising caution while traveling in foggy conditions.
Sources By Agencies
