It’s Christmas and the weather in North India is leaving no stone unturned to give a feel of bitterly cold weather with cold wave conditions in many areas and blanket of fog. The Safdarjung Observatory of Delhi, the primary weather station in the national capital, recorded a minimum temperature of 5.4 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, on Saturday.
according to India According to the Meteorological Department (IMD), the mercury at the Ridge weather station dropped to 4 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal, making it the coldest place in the capital.
Meanwhile, Mumbai recorded the coldest day of the season on Saturday as the minimum temperature settled at 16 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal. The Meteorological Department has predicted further fall in mercury over the weekend.
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Cold wave conditions in parts of North India
The IMD said cold wave conditions were observed at isolated places over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and northwest Rajasthan.
In the plains, if the minimum temperature drops to 4°C, the IMD declares a cold wave. There is also a possibility of a cold wave if the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or less and 4.5 degrees below normal.
A “severe” cold wave occurs when the minimum temperature drops by two degrees Celsius or the departure from normal is more than 6.4 degrees Celsius.
When the minimum temperature is less than or equal to 10 °C and the maximum temperature is at least 4.5 °C below normal, it is called a ‘cold day’.
Mumbai records coldest day of the season
After a few warm days in December, Mumbaikars woke up to the coldest day of the season on Saturday, December 24, when the minimum temperature dropped to 16 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal. It was the coldest day so far in December.
According to the Meteorological Department, the mercury is likely to fall further over the weekend. Last year, on December 29, Mumbai reportedly recorded a minimum temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius.
Just two weeks ago, Mumbai recorded the highest maximum temperature on December 13 when the mercury touched 35 degrees Celsius.
Visibility reduced in Delhi due to fog
Parts of Delhi and NCR have been covered with fog for the last few days. Visibility remained low in the national capital on Sunday as well due to a layer of fog.
No White Christmas in Himachal, says IMD
In a disappointment to the tourists who visit the state every year to witness snowfall, the IMD has predicted that tourist places in Himachal Pradesh will see no snowfall during Christmas. The state weather center in Shimla has predicted snowfall in the higher reaches of Kullu, Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts of the state after a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) is expected on December 26.
“During the last 24 hours, cold wave conditions prevailed in Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts. A new Western Disturbance has come on December 26 and there will be rain and snow in the higher reaches of the state. Another Western Disturbance is approaching on 28th and 29th and will affect Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts of the state. There is no scope for snowfall during Christmas in the tourist places of the state. The night temperature has dropped and it may increase in the coming days,” said Bui Lal, senior scientist IMD HP.
18 dead, hundreds of thousands without power as monster storm brings snow and cold across US
A fierce winter storm has killed at least 18 people across the country, knocked out power to hundreds of homes and businesses and left millions worried about the prospect of Christmas Eve blackouts.
The storm unleashed its full fury over Buffalo, New York, with hurricane-force winds causing whiteout conditions. Emergency response efforts were paralyzed and the city’s international airport was closed.
Read also: 18 dead, hundreds of thousands without power as monster storm brings snow and cold across US
Across the US, officials have attributed the deaths to exposure, car accidents, fallen tree limbs and other effects of the storm. At least three people died in the Buffalo area, including two who suffered medical emergencies in their homes and could not be rescued because emergency workers were unable to reach them amid the historic blizzard.
Deep snow, single-digit temperatures and a day-long power outage forced Buffalo residents to venture out of their homes on Saturday with nowhere near the heat. New York Gov. Cathy Hochul said Buffalo Niagara International Airport would remain closed through Monday morning and nearly every fire truck in the city was stuck in the snow.
(with agency inputs)
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