New Delhi, January 19: Northwest India will experience widespread rainfall accompanied by cold wave-like conditions from January 19 to January 22, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted on Friday. Widespread rainfall or snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been predicted between January 20 and 22.  Meanwhile, plains areas, especially Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, would also receive heavy rain with gusty winds on January 21-22, the IMD said informed.  Delhi Under Dense Fog: 10 Trains Delayed and Several Flights Diverted as Fog Engulfs National Capital. 

There would be a drop in the maximum temperatures by 3-4 degrees Celsius over northwest India from January 21. In its release, the IMD said the weather conditions are caused under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance. The IMD informed that two western disturbances in quick succession would be affecting northwest India during the next one week which would cause severe weather across northwest India from January 19 to 22 with peak intensity on January 21.

In the wake of the rains, there would be a fall in maximum temperature. The IMD has also forecasted dense to very dense fog in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and north Rajasthan for the next 1-2 days. "During this period, an induced cyclonic circulation would form over southwest Rajasthan on 20th and would move over Punjab & adjoining Haryana by 22nd", the IMD said. In addition, there would be high moisture feeding from the Arabian Sea over northwest India specifically over Western Himalayan Region (WHR) from 20th to 24th.

According to the IMD release, the second western disturbance would affect the western Himalayan region and the plains of northwest India from January 24 to 26, though it would be of lesser intensity.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 19, 2019 12:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).