Why You Need To Avoid Alcohol In The Coming Days, IMD Reveals With Winter Forecast For North India

In its latest impact-based advisory, the IMD stated that a "severe" cold wave is expected over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and northern Rajasthan from December 28. It has also advised people to not consume alcohol. Read on.

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New Delhi: According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as the weather gets colder in north India, drinking alcohol at home or year-end parties won't be a good idea.  In its latest impact-based advisory, the IMD stated that a "severe" cold wave is expected over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and northern Rajasthan from December 28 with that an increased likelihood of illnesses like flu, running nose or nosebleed usually set in or get aggravated due to prolonged exposure to cold. Contrary to popular belief, drinking alcohol in such a case is not a good idea. "Don't drink alcohol. It reduces your body temperature," the advisory reads. "Get indoors. Eat vitamin-C-rich fruits and moisturize your skin regularly to counter the effects of severe cold," it said. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of the IMD, informed that the temperature will increase slightly on Sunday and Monday because of the fresh Western Disturbance affecting the upper reaches of the Himalayas, but the relief will be a short one. The Western Disturbance will lead to "scattered to fairly widespread" snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. After the wind system withdraws, cold and dry northerly/northwesterly winds from the western Himalayas will bring the minimum temperature in north India down by three to five degrees Celsius, the IMD said. "Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP and north Rajasthan from December 28-29. Ground frost and dense fog are likely in isolated pockets in the region," it said. In the plains, a cold wave of 10 degrees Celsius as minimum temperature or below is predicted which is 4.5 notches less than normal. A "severe" cold wave is when the minimum temperature dips to two degrees Celsius or the departure is more than 6.4 degrees Celsius. The Safdarjung Observatory which provides representative data for the city recorded a minimum of 3.4 degrees Celsius which has been the lowest this season so far. (With Agency Inputs) WATCH | Tourists enjoy ice skating in Shimla