North India braces for intense cold wave: Heavy snowfall and dense fog to mark a harsh start to 2025
PTC Web Desk: North India, including Delhi, is gearing up for a harsh start to the New Year, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting a significant drop in temperatures. Heavy year-end rains and snowfall are expected to intensify cold wave conditions across the region, disrupting normal life.
The IMD predicts a steep decline in minimum temperatures in several parts of North, West, and Central India. Over the next two days, the mercury is expected to fall by 3-5 degrees Celsius in Northwest India, including Delhi. Similar drops are anticipated in West and Central India over the next three days, while East India is expected to see temperatures dip by 2-4 degrees Celsius.
Himachal Pradesh will experience severe cold wave conditions on December 30 and 31, while Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, and Rajasthan are set to face the brunt of cold waves in the first week of January.
In Kashmir, heavy snowfall blanketed the valley, marking the season's first major snow event. The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was shut down, leaving tourists stranded, while flight and rail operations were disrupted. The region's plains, including Srinagar, were covered in a white sheet of snow, significantly affecting daily life.
Dense to very dense fog is predicted in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan from December 28 to 30. Similar foggy conditions will persist in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and sub-Himalayan West Bengal at varying intervals during the early days of January, causing reduced visibility and travel disruptions.
The combination of plunging temperatures, heavy snowfall, and dense fog is expected to create a challenging start to 2025. The authorities have advised caution while travelling and urged people to take necessary measures to stay warm and safe.
- With inputs from agencies
