Two western disturbances likely to affect northwest India  IMD on cold wave

The IMD on the cold wave predicts that two western disturbances would impact northwest India.

It is expected to grow considerably colder in the area during the following two days when the arctic northwesterly winds from the Himalayas settle over the plains.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department on Monday, the cold wave conditions across northwest India are anticipated to subside starting on January 19 as two western disturbances are predicted to quickly follow one another in the western Himalayan area. The Western Himalayan area is anticipated to see its first western disturbance on January 18 and its second on January 20. According to the IMD, these two systems are responsible for the cold wave that is currently sweeping over the northwest.

However, the minimum temperature is highly expected to drop another 2°C over several areas of northwest India till Tuesday morning before the stinging weather subsides.

According to the Met Department, cold wave to severe cold wave conditions will last until January 18 in several areas of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. Additionally, isolated areas of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar from January 17–19 as well as Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Saurashtra, and Kutch on January 17 and 18 are extremely likely to experience the cold wave situation.

When the lowest temperature falls to 4°C or is 4.5°C below average, the IMD proclaims a "cold wave" in the area. 

Isolated pockets of dense to very dense fog are very likely to form during the night and early morning hours over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from January 16 to January 18; dense fog is also very likely to form over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from January 16 to January 18; Bihar from January 16 to January 19; Odisha on January 16 and 17; and Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura from January 16 to January 2023.

The report said, "On January 16, 2023, isolated pockets of chilly day conditions are quite possible across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and West Madhya Pradesh; as well as over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.The cold wave conditions in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi over the next two days have also elevated the risk of getting the flu, a runny or stuffy nose, or a nosebleed, according to the weather forecasting organisation.