Weather update: Cold wave grips northwest India; IMD issues heavy rainfall alert for Andhra Pradesh

Dense smog engulfs the India Gate. (Image: PTI)

The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) has informed us that cold wave conditions in Northwest India will continue for the next seven days. It has also warned Andhra Pradesh of heavy showers on December 20 due to a low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal to impact the weather conditions.

The IMD has also issued a 'yellow alert' indicating intense rains in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam district in Puducherry.

According to the latest forecast from the Meteorological Department, cold wave conditions are expected to affect Northwest India over the next seven days. Himachal Pradesh will experience these conditions from December 20 to December 25.

Cold waves will impact West Rajasthan on December 20, 22, and 23, while Punjab will feel the bite on December 20, 21, and 22. Areas such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Baltistan, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, and Ladakh are projected to experience cold wave conditions from December 20 to December 25. Additionally, Chandigarh and Haryana will be affected from December 20 to December 21.

Uttar Pradesh is likely to experience dense fog during the night and early morning hours till December 21. Haryana and Chandigarh will have it on December 20, December 22, and December 24. Jharkhand and East Rajasthan will face it from December 20 to December 22. Similarly, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim might experience it from December 21 to December 22.

Many places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, North Tamil, and Rayalaseema will receive heavy rainfall on December 20. Similar weather patterns will be prevalent in coastal West Bengal and coastal Odisha on December 20 and 21. Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland are likely to experience it from December 20 to 24. Meghalaya and Assam are expected to receive it from December 21 to 23.

The weather department has also said that a fresh and active western disturbance is expected to affect the Western Himalayan region and nearby plains from December 27. The IMD has projected that there may be snowfall in higher altitudes of Himachal Pradesh from December 27 and December 28.