Northwestern regions of India experienced the second driest January since 1901, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. In January, the rainfall deficit was 91 per cent. During December and January, the region (Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the National Capital Territory) received only 7.8 mm rainfall. The complete absence of snowfall, particularly over the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and neighbouring hilly terrains, has been a matter of great concern. It was only on Wednesday that a fresh western disturbance system brought the season’s first snow over some areas in the extreme northern regions like Ladakh, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The December rainfall recorded over northwest India was 6.6 mm against the normal of 18.9mm (-65 per cent) and January reported 1.2 mm against normal of 32.5 mm rainfall (till January 30, -96 per cent). The main source for precipitation during winter over northern India are the western disturbances. But this season, despite five such disturbance streams prevailing, their position and intensity remained unfavourable for the country, the IMD said. “The western disturbances crossed much to the north of India and they were largely feeble. That is why, the precipitation remained significantly below normal,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general, IMD. Originating in the Mediterranean Sea, western disturbances are eastward-moving jet streams carrying moisture in their upper layers. As they reach the Indian sub-continent, they encounter the Himalayas and the moisture transpires into precipitation over northwestern regions of India during winter months. During their passage, western disturbances bring snowfall over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and rainfall over the plains of Delhi, Rajasthan and UP. After these streams move away from India, the associated cold winds penetrate into central and north peninsular India regions, thus lowering the temperatures. New Delhi, too, experienced a dry January and it was the driest January since 2016, the IMD said. Since 2009, Delhi experienced dry January only in 2016 and 2024, the IMD data revealed. This winter, the Met department recorded rainfall traces (insignificant to measure) only on January 24 (Data till January 30). The mean rainfall over Delhi in January is 19.2mm (over 1.7 mean days) and the same in December is 8 mm (over 0.6 mean days) for the period 1991 - 2020. The IMD categorises January and February as winter months over India. While most of the country experiences a dry winter, northwest India, in particular, experiences intermittent snow or rainfall starting mid-December – both crucial for the year’s water replenishment along the hilly terrains of the Himalayas and the dependent ecosystem. Even though January remained a cold month over North India, it was mostly felt due to cold day conditions, that is, the maximum temperatures remained below normal. And it is not due to reasons associated with cold waves. The Indo-Gangetic plains, particularly, experienced one of the longest spells of fog that lasted during December 27-January 30, crippling road, rail and air travel. Feb forecast: Less winter chill, more rain In February, winter chills will remain largely absent over most parts of the country, the IMD has said in its monthly forecast. The condition will prevail in most parts of the country except over J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, northeastern India regions, where the minimum temperatures will remain close to normal. Rainfall over most of India, especially over north India, will remain above normal during February, the IMD forecast suggested. (Anjali Marar works with the Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru.)
