Northern winds, absence of western disturbance behind cold wave: Meteorologists

New Delhi: The Dal Lake in Kashmir is completely frozen. Poonch has witnessed the lowest recorded temperature in 35 years. And across north India, the weather became bone-chilling. In Chandigarh, the mercury dipped to -2.1, Delhi shivered at 1.9 and Hissar in Haryana was cold at -0.8 degree centigrade.

According to the Met Department, the temperatures may be unusual but not unprecedented. "Lowest temperatures have been recorded earlier as well. In Delhi, on January 16, 2003, the temperature had touched 0.6 degrees," says a IMD official. "It's not abnormal but it doesn't always happen. The reason for the current spell is because of the northern winds. They are bringing cold with them as they are coming from the north," he adds.

The Met Department has also blamed the dip in temperature on the absence of the warmer winds called the western disturbance. "Weather changes in North India are brought about due to western disturbance that cut off north winds. If there is a large gap between two western disturbance, then temperatures drop low," the official tells us.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the temperatures may be unusual but not unprecedented.

Even as people struggle to keep warm on the streets of Delhi, the good news is that according to the Met Department, the situation will improve in the next four-five days.

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