“IMD Warns of Prolonged Cold Wave and Dense Fog in Northern India, Issues Red and Orange Category Alerts”

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has alerted residents of northern India to brace for an extended period of dense fog and cold conditions persisting for the next four to five days. A red category warning has been issued for the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, while an orange category warning covers Rajasthan, parts of Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh for fog and cold.

Key Highlights:

1. The IMD’s red category warning indicates the need for action to prevent “extreme weather-related disasters,” while the orange category warning signals preparedness for “extreme weather.”
2. Cold wave conditions are expected to prevail over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and north Rajasthan for the next three to four days. Minimum temperatures are 2-4 degrees Celsius below normal in most parts of the affected regions.
3. Dense to very dense fog, coupled with severe cold day conditions, will persist over north India. The Delhi-NCR region experienced a marginal improvement in weather conditions on Sunday, with longer hours of sunshine.
4. Strong jet stream winds at 250 to 300 kmph above sea level are influencing the plains of North India, causing the subsidence of cold air over the region.
5. A western disturbance is expected to impact the Western Himalayan region on January 26. However, it remains uncertain whether it will be intense enough to disrupt the ongoing fog and cold spell over the northern plains.
6. The severe weather conditions in north India are attributed to the absence of western disturbances in December and January. The lack of active western disturbances can also be linked to El Niño conditions over the equatorial Pacific.
7. The IMD has deployed surveillance drones equipped with AI technology, and the ‘yellow zone’ in Ayodhya has 10,715 AI-based cameras for face recognition.
8. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are on standby, with boat patrols on the Saryu river.
9. An anti-drone system has been deployed in Ayodhya to counter potential aerial threats.
10. Ground frost conditions are likely in Uttarakhand on January 21 and 22. The ongoing cold conditions are expected to continue for the next five days due to strong jet stream winds.

Residents are advised to exercise caution, and authorities are urged to be prepared for the persistent cold wave and dense fog conditions in the coming days. The situation is being closely monitored for any developments that may impact the ongoing weather patterns in northern India.

Sources By Agencies