🍎In the past 24 hours, minimum temperatures dropped below 0°C in Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal, while 4-12°C was recorded across northern and central states.
🍨Minimum temperatures dropped below 0°C across many parts of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh in the last 24 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan recorded temperatures between 4-8°C, while Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Gujarat saw temperatures ranging from 8-12°C.
ꦦThe 40-day harsh winter period, Chillai Kalan, has begun with an intense cold wave across Kashmir. Srinagar experienced its coldest December night in over three decades, with a temperature of minus 8.5°C on Friday. A slight respite was observed on Sunday, as the minimum temperature in Srinagar rose to -4.6°C.
🔯Chillai Kalan extends from December 21 to January 31. It is followed by Chillai Khurd (Small Cold) from January 31 to February 19, and Chillai Bacha (Baby Cold) from February 20 to March 2.
Rainfall:🔯 Light to moderate rainfall is very likely at a few places, with heavy rainfall expected at isolated locations over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema during December 24-26. Light rainfall or snowfall is likely at isolated places over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh during December 22-24.
Temperature:ꦯ No significant change in minimum temperatures is expected over Northwest and Central India during the next 24 hours, with a gradual rise of 2-3°C thereafter. No significant change is likely over West and East India (except Gujarat State) in the next 4-5 days. Gujarat State will see no significant change in minimum temperatures for the next 3 days, followed by a gradual rise of 2-3°C.
Cold Wave Warnings: 🌌Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely in some parts of Himachal Pradesh on December 22 and 23. Cold wave conditions are also very likely in isolated pockets over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad on December 22 and 23.
Dense Fog Warnings: ༒Dense fog conditions are likely to prevail during the late night and early morning hours in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh on December 24 and 25. Dense fog is also expected in Punjab, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Odisha on December 22, and in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on December 22-23. Assam and Meghalaya will experience dense fog from December 22 to 25.
(Inputs from IMD bulletin)