The states in northern and northwestern India are key producers of rabi crops like wheat, peas, gram and barley. These crops are grown in winter (October to December) and harvested in summer (April to June).

The India Meteorological Department issued a warning for cold wave conditions in north India, starting December 29, with minimum temperatures expected to fall by three to five degrees Celsius. According to IMD,

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a gradual decrease in temperatures across parts of northwest and central India, including Delhi, in the coming days. As the cold wave tightens its grip,

The weather agency has predicted cold wave to severe cold wave conditions in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

After two days of rain spell that brought a chill in the atmosphere, Sunday morning saw the national capital wrapped in a thick blanket of fog that persisted throughout the day.

P arts of north India have been experiencing cold wave conditions for the last few days and are expected to enter the new year with snow, dense with cold waves in several regions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that temperatures across parts of northwest and central India, including Delhi, will fall gradually over the next few days. In some regions, mercury could drop by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.

A more severe coldwave is likely to impact Himachal Pradesh on December 30 and 31, with isolated areas of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan also bracing for plunging temperatures.