Above-normal maximum temperatures likely in Feb over parts of India: Weather body

Above-normal maximum temperatures would likely prevail in parts of central and north India in February, the Indian Meteorological Department said in a statement.

Last year, Delhi had recorded the highest temperature for February in the last 55 years. In February 2023, Delhi recorded the minimum temperature as 2 degrees above the average temperature of the season, which was 12-13 degrees Celsius.

Similarly, above normal rainfall (more than 119 percent of long period average) is expected in India in February 2024, the IMD said.

Thick fog shrouded Delhi and its neighbouring areas on Wednesday morning, reducing visibility to near zero and affecting road, rail and flight movement. The national capital is likely to receive light rainfall for two days beginning today owing to a western disturbance in the Himalayan region.

With two western disturbances in quick succession likely to hit northwest India, light/moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall/snowfall was very likely in Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand till February 4 and decrease significantly thereafter, the IMD said.

Isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall was predicted to occur in the Kashmir Valley and Himachal Pradesh on January 31 and February 1 and in Uttarakhand on January 31.