Dense to very dense fog has been reported from most parts of north-west India during morning hours, signalling the beginning of the annual season of ‘disruptive weather’ in the region.

During the 24 hours ending Monday morning, dense fog spread out during the morning hours over Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and foothills of Himalayas in West Bengal.

Mid-December is the time when the season arrives and throws out of gear transport and logistics. The annual season can hold good for 15 days on an average.

It won’t take much long for dense fog to descend over Delhi and neighbourhood. India Met Department says this can take place as early as from Tuesday/Wednesday.

Gujarat freezes

Meanwhile, biting cold froze most of Gujarat as the warmth (along with fog in the north) brought in by a western disturbance dissipated as an offspring cyclonic circulation sped away to south Uttar Pradesh.

Cold Arctic from a north-westerly direction filled the space left behind by the circulation, and saw Gujarat plunge into cold wave conditions.

The cold spread in lesser degrees to adjoining Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. But the east-moving western disturbance brought its warmth (and fog) to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Rest of the North-West saw thundershowers break out thanks to interaction between the western disturbance and easterly winds blowing across the peninsula by means of a trough that linked both.

Mercury dip

Night temperatures are expected to fall in north-west, central and east India as the western disturbance leaves these places over the next couple of days.

But cloudless conditions would ensure that daytime temperatures would perk up, offering some respite from the biting cold of the night.

However, Gujarat will continue to witness cold wave conditions during the next two days as well. The next western disturbance is expected in by December 21 only, the Met Department said.

This would mean that the cold could become entrenched over more parts of central and adjoining west India. By the same token, parts of north-west would again be brought under fog cover.

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