IMD weather forecast Jan 14-17: Cold wave set to hit Delhi, northwest India, snowfall in J&K, Himachal, and other hill states

The India Meteorological Department said A fresh spell of cold wave in northwest India next week would see mercury dropping by three to five degrees Celsius, even as the chilly conditions abated slightly in many states providing relief to people.

Western disturbance and consequent stronger surface winds have significantly improved fog conditions over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh. However, dense to very dense fog continues over eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Delhi witnessed light rainfall on Thursday and recorded a minimum temperature of 9.3 degrees Celsius -- two notches above the season's average -- with the weather department predicting a return of cold wave conditions in the city next week.

The national capital recorded a cold wave spell from January 5 to January 9, the longest in the month in a decade, according to IMD data. In Rajasthan, Fatehpur in Sikar and Churu recorded minimum temperatures of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius and minus 1.5 degrees Celsius on January 5.

Chandigarh witnessed a bright sunny day after days of cold and foggy weather. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 9.2 degrees Celsius. In Haryana, Ambala recorded a low of 8 degrees Celsius, Hisar 8.5 degrees Celsius, Karnal 8.7 degrees Celsius, Narnaul 9 degrees Celsius, Rohtak 9.2 degrees Celsius and Sirsa 9.2 degrees Celsius.

In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a low of 10 degrees Celsius, Patiala 8.4 degrees Celsius, Pathankot 8.5 degrees Celsius, Faridkot 9 degrees Celsius and Muktsar 9.6 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Mohali settled at 9.1 degrees Celsius.

The higher reaches of Kashmir received snowfall for the second consecutive day as the night temperature dropped below freezing point across the Valley, officials said on Thursday.

Snowfall continued in Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and other higher reaches of Kashmir. The officials said many areas in the plains of Kashmir received intermittent light rain.

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway is through for traffic, while the Mughal Road -- the alternate road link connecting the Valley with the Jammu region -- and the Srinagar-Leh highway were closed for traffic, they said.

The officials said there was some delay in the flight operations at Srinagar airport here due to low visibility. However, the operations took place in the afternoon after the visibility improved.

The meteorological office, in a statement, said, "Minimum temperatures over many parts of northwest India are very likely to fall by three five degrees from January 14."

"Severe cold wave conditions (are) likely over some parts of north Rajasthan and cold wave conditions in isolated pockets likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana on January 15, 16 and 17," it said.

Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology and climate change), of Skymet Weather, said sub-zero temperatures are expected in some parts of Rajasthan such as Churu and Sikar next week. "The mercury may dip to minus 2 degrees Celsius at these places, which is not unusual," he said.