๐Jharkhand may observe rain in the upcoming days which may bring the temperature down further. Delhi is still breathing polluted air with an AQI reading of 385 around Thursday noon.
๐กHarshest weather conditions prevail in Jammu and Kahsmir but Christmas remained dry. The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast light snowfall in some areas in the coming weekend for J&K. Meanwhile, snowfall led to closure of 226 roads in Himachal Pradesh.
๐นFurthermore, Jharkhand may witness rain in the upcoming days which is expected to bring the temperature further down. Over in Delhi, polluted air continues to engulf the capital with an AQI reading of 340 on Thursday morning.
๐ Cold weather conditions persisted in states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
โThe Central Pollution Control Board's data revealed that the air quality in Delhi was recorded in the "very poor" category on Thursday, with an AQI reading of 385 at 12 pm. Meanwhile the minimum temperature was recorded at 8.2 degrees Celsius in the national capital.
๊ฆซThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a thunderstorm accompanied by rain on Friday and Saturday, and issued a "yellow alert", predicting very dense fog, on Sunday.
๊ฆบDelhi also experiences low visibility on Thursday morning leading to cancellation of 18 trains. But all flights have been operating smoothly with low visibility procedures being implemented at Delhi Airport.
๐ดBoth the hills and plains of Jammu and Kashmir reeled under cold wave conditions as the temperature settled several degrees below the freezing point on Wednesday.
๐ปThe weather officials told PTI that there is a possibility of light snowfall over the higher reaches on Friday and Saturday as a Western Disturbance is set to impact the region.
๐ถWater supply lines were frozen as thin layer of ice covered several water bodies including Srinagar's Dal Lake. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 7 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night, slightly up from the previous night's minus 7.3 degrees Celsius, the meteorological department said.
๐บGulmarg recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6 degrees Celsius while Pahalgam, the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, registered a minimum temperature of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius.
๐ฝOther areas like Qazigund, Kupwara and Kokernag also recorded minus temperatures in the ongoing Chillai Kalan.
๐ฏDue to the influence of an active Western Disturbance, there is a possibility of light snowfall over the higher reaches towards late afternoon of Friday till the forenoon the next day, the Met Office said.
โคWhile the weather would stay mainly dry on December 29, 30, and 31, light snowfall is possible at isolated places in Kashmir from January 1-4.
๐During the 40 days of Chillai-Kalan, the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
๐จIMD forcasting for the state said that the temperature is likely to drop. The minimum temperature in the state is at present hovering between 11 degrees and 18 degrees Celsius.
โThe Ranchi Meteorological Centre said that light rain is likely at some places in west and adjoining northern Jharkhand on Saturday and southwest parts of the state on Sunday.
๐ Abhishek Anand, the in-charge of the Ranchi Meteorological Centre said, "The minimum temperature is above the normal in most parts of the state due to the partial cloudy weather. There is a possibility of light rain in west and adjoining northern parts on December 28."
๊ฆHe said the reason behind the forecast was a western disturbance in northwest India and the influx of moisture from the Bay of Bengal.
๐He said the mercury will dip from December 29 with the sky getting clearer.
๐นGumla was the coldest place in the state, recording a minimum temperature of 11.2 degrees Celsius. Chatra was at 11.6 degrees Celsius, while state capital Ranchi recorded 12.6 degrees Celsius, which was 3.3 notches above the normal.
๊งSnowfall in Himachal has led to closure of 226 roads, including three national highways, officials said.
๐People shivered under piercing cold wave conditions as minimum temperatures dropped by a few notches in Jot, which received 10 cm of snow in the past 24 hours.
๐According to the state emergency operation centre, a maximum of 123 roads were closed in Shimla district, 36 in Lahaul and Spiti and 25 in Kullu.
๐งธAdditionally, 173 transformers were disrupted, affecting power supply across the state.
โThe hopes of locals and tourists to experience a white Christmas in the Queen of Hills, Shimla, were dashed as the city was greeted by bright sunshine on Wednesday morning.
เทดThe Met office has predicted rain and snow at isolated places in some parts of the state, particularly in Shimla, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, with precipitation expected to peak on Saturday.
Many areas of Rajasthan๐ were enveloped with dense fog as cold conditions persisted in the state on Wednesday.
๐ฆฉIn the last 24 hours, light rain occurred at one place in eastern Rajasthan while fog and dense fog prevailed at many places. A 'cold day' was recorded at some places in western Rajasthan.
Cold weather conditions persisted in Punjab๐ and Haryana on Wednesday with Faridkot recording the lowest minimum temperature at 4.2 degrees Celsius, according to the meteorological department.
๐ฅIn Punjab, Amritsar recorded a minimum temperature of 5.4 degrees Celsius, Amritsar 5.7 degrees Celsius and Gurdaspur 5.5 degrees Celsius.
In Haryana๐ฏ, Narnaul was the coldest place with a minimum temperature of 5.2 degrees Celsius.
เฝงChandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a low of 7.4 degrees Celsius.
Weather across Uttar Pradesh๐ฐ cleared up on Wednesday afternoon following two days of rain caused by western disturbances, MeT officials said.
๐ฐThe light drizzle on Monday and Tuesday had resulted in fog and noticeable drop in temperatures, further intensifying the cold conditions over the past 48 hours.
โAccording to the India Meteorological Department forecast, the weather is expected to remain clear on Thursday before rains resume from December 27.