An active western disturbance is prevailing over the region, and a fresh western disturbance is expected from the night of January 30, which are likely to bring in light to moderate rainfall and snowfall at many places likely over the Western Himalayan region and the adjoining plains of northwest India till February 2.

Fairly widespread rain is expected at many places in Haryana and Punjab on January 28 and February 1, while on other days, only a few places in these states may receive rain, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). Moderate rains were experienced at many places on January 27.

Over the past 24 hours, light to moderate rain was experienced at some places in Punjab. These included Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Kapurthala districts to the north and Barnala, Sangrur and Mansa districts in the south. In Haryana, only Jind and Mahendragarh districts received rain.

With many areas of northwest India receiving intermittent rains over the past few days, rainfall for the month of January so far has been above the long period average by 71 per cent in Punjab and by 27 per cent in Haryana.

While day temperatures in Punjab were below normal by up to 5.7 degrees and up to 8.7 degrees in Haryana, the night temperatures were above normal by up to 5.7 degrees in Punjab and up to four degrees in Haryana.

IMD has predicted a gradual fall in minimum temperatures by 3-5 degrees Celsius over northwest India during the next two days and a gradual rise by 3-5 degrees thereafter. Cold wave conditions along with dense fog are expected at some places in both the states till January 30.

Over the past 24 hours, the minimum temperatures recorded in Punjab ranged from 7.7 degrees Celsius at Ludhiana to 12.9 degrees Celsius, while in Haryana these were between 5.8 degrees Celsius at Gurugram and 11.5 degrees Celsius at Ambala.

Maximum temperatures in Punjab were between 14 degrees Celsius at Ropar and 18 degrees Celsius at Bathinda, while in Haryana these were between 13.8 degrees Celsius at Narnaul and 21.9 degrees Celsius at Karnal.

IMD has also forecast fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and snowfall with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the coming days, which will impact the weather in Punjab and Haryana.