In the past couple of weeks, the Indo-Gangetic plains have been experiencing shivering cold and dense fog. Stepping outside has become risky for the people of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh due to the lowest temperatures and poor vision. In a long-range monthly forecast earlier this week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that temperatures will probably stay below average in several areas of northwest India throughout the entire month of January 2023. The predictions have so far come true, with coldwave to severe coldwave conditions being seen in numerous locations over Punjab and in a few isolated locations in Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana over the past 24 hours. Today’s lowest temperature was 2.5°C in Gurdaspur, Punjab, while it was 3.8°C in Narnaul, Haryana. On Wednesday morning, Delhi’s Ridge recorded the coldest temperature of 3.3°C, which is about 4 units below average. When the minimum temperature in the plains falls below 10°C and the ensuing maximum temperature falls by at least 4.5°C, the IMD declares a coldwave. However, when the lowest temperature falls below 2°C or the deviation from the average exceeds 6.4°C, a severe cold wave is declared. Due to these circumstances, the IMD has issued a red warning for these areas on Wednesday and Thursday, which means “take action.” On Friday, the warning will be changed to an orange alert.
