A cold wave in parts of India has caused freezing temperatures, freezing lakes, springs, rivulets, and water pipelines. The temperatures have dropped 14-18 degrees below the freezing point, with regions of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir experiencing the harshest cold.
In Himachal Pradesh, high-altitude areas and mountain passes have been hit by intense cold, with temperatures staying 14-18 degrees below freezing on Sunday. In Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of -4.6°C on Saturday night, nearly four degrees higher than the previous night.
Weather updates
Cold wave in Himachal Pradesh:
In Himachal Pradesh, cold wave conditions in the lower hills led the weather department to issue an orange alert for Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur, and Mandi districts. Tabo recorded the coldest temperature at -11.6°C, while Sumdo, Kusumseri, and Kalpa had lows of -5.3°C, -4.8°C, and -1.8°C, respectively. The cold wave has caused water pipes, springs, and rivulets to freeze in many areas, reducing water flow and affecting hydropower generation.
Yellow warning in Himachal:
A yellow warning has been issued for dense fog in parts of the Bhakra Dam reservoir area and Balh Valley in Mandi from December 24 to 26. Thick frost could also form in some areas during this time.
Freezing in Jammu and Kashmir:
In Jammu and Kashmir, the extreme cold has frozen water supply lines and created thin ice layers on water bodies. Srinagar recorded a low of -4.6°C, while Pahalgam, the base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, saw temperatures dip to -4.9°C. Gulmarg, known for skiing, recorded -4.6°C.
Chillai Kalan in Jammu and Kashmir:
Kashmir’s harshest winter period, Chillai Kalan, started on Saturday. Srinagar recorded its coldest December night in over 50 years, with a temperature of -8.5°C, marking the coldest December since 1974.
Light rain in Delhi:
Delhi experienced light rain on Monday, accompanied by a severe Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI worsened to "severe" from "very poor" over the weekend. The maximum temperature reached 24.1°C, three notches above normal.
The weather forecast predicts cloudy skies and light rain, with temperatures ranging between 20°C and 7°C.
Cold wave in Rajasthan:
Parts of Rajasthan also continued to experience cold wave conditions. Karauli recorded the lowest temperature at 4.5°C, while other areas like Sangaria, Fatehpur, and Alwar saw minimum temperatures between 5°C and 7.5°C. The weather in the state was mainly dry with some fog in certain areas.
This ongoing cold wave has caused significant disruptions, with freezing temperatures impacting daily life in many regions.
Also Read: Srinagar freezes at -8°C, coldest December in 50 years
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