Weather Update: J&K, Ladakh Likely To Receive Snowfall Today, Rainfall Predicted in Bihar, Assam

Northwest and central regions will not witness any major cold wave in the coming week, as per the predictions of the weather department

New Delhi: Isolated light rainfall or snowfall is likely over higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan & Muzaffarabad on Friday, as per the India Meteorological Department forecast.

On the other hand several parts of northeastern region will continue to receive rain while significant decrease of rainfall has been predicted in Arunachal Pradesh by the India Meteorological Department in its bulletin on Thursday.

India is celebrating Makar Sankranti which marks the official end of the winter season as the Sun changes its movement from Dakshinayana (south) to Uttarayana (north) hemisphere on this day. Northwest and central regions will not witness any major cold wave in the coming week, as per the predictions of the weather department.

“No major cold wave condition over any states during the week over northwest and central India, due to easterly winds, clouds and wet spell impacted by this intense WD during 1st half followed with fog/low clouds occurred during 2nd half of the week,” said IMD in its forecast for the next two weeks

Dry weather is very likely over remaining parts of the country during most days of the week, said the met department. Minimum temperatures are above normal by 2-4°C over many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and east and northeast India; these are near normal or below normal by 2-3°C over rest parts of north India, said IMD.

Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality has deteriorated further as it slipped from the 'moderate' category to 'very poor', with the city recording an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 312, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), according to news agency ANI.

The air quality in the national capital was in the 'satisfactory' category continuously for three days from January 9 to January 11, while it slipped to the 'moderate' category on January 12.

The air quality in Noida and Gurugram is in the 'poor' category. The AQI in Noida stands at 262, while Gurugram's AQI is at 256. As per the government agencies, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.