North India is in the grip of dense fog and cold wave these days. There is heavy snowfall in the Himalayan regions, due to which the temperature has dropped below zero at many places. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the impact of another Western Disturbance will cause drastic changes in the weather over North-West India from January 4, 2025.
IMD forecast: Less rain from January to March
IMD said that there is a possibility of below normal rainfall in North India during January to March 2025.
- The maximum and minimum temperatures may be above normal in the month of January.
- The year 2024 was recorded as the hottest year since 1901.
Effect of Western Disturbance
Heavy snowfall in Himalayan regions
- 1 to 3 January 2025: There will be light to scattered rain and snowfall in the western Himalayan region.
- 4 to 6 January 2025: Heavy rain and snowfall is expected in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Muzaffarabad.
- There is a possibility of light to moderate rain in the plains.
impact of cyclonic storm
- 31 December 2024: A cyclonic storm over the equatorial Indian Ocean and south-west Bay of Bengal caused light to moderate rain and thundershowers over South Tamil Nadu.
- This effect is likely to extend to Maldives and south-east Arabian Sea on 3 and 4 January.
Cold wave and fog warning
IMD has issued an alert regarding cold wave and dense fog:
- There is a possibility of increase in cold in Western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
- 1 to 5 January 2025: Dense fog likely in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha.
- Ground frost in north-eastern India:
- Ground frost conditions may occur in some areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
Alert for fishermen
IMD cautioned fishermen, saying:
- From 31 December to 4 January:
- Avoid fishing in the Gulf of Mannar, South-West Bay of Bengal and surrounding areas.
- The weather will be adverse over Maldives and south-east Arabian Sea on January 3 and 4.
How will the winter season be?
Importance of rain and snowfall
- Winter rains due to western disturbances play an important role for Rabi crops.
- The yield of crops such as wheat, barley, and gram in the North Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh depends on this rain.
Danger of overheating
- Despite the cold wave, the IMD has predicted temperatures in January to be above normal, which may adversely impact Rabi crops.
