The Centre on Monday issued a cold wave warning for regions in North India, saying that the minimum temperature is likely to fall by 2°C to 4°C between January 10 and January 13. “Dry northwesterly cold winds at lower and middle levels are very likely to prevail over the plains of northwest India,” the advisory said.

Punjab, Haryana and northern parts of Rajasthan will be hit by the cold wave, the warning said. “Cold wave conditions at isolated places are also most likely to prevail over West Uttar Pradesh from 11th morning to 13th morning,” it said, adding that ground frost conditions were also “likely to occur at isolated pockets” in Punjab, Haryana and north Rajasthan during the same period.

The northerly winds are expected to pick up pace, as a result of which temperatures at night over the northwest plains will drop by 3°C to 4°C, according to Skymet Weather. “Next week is expected to be the coldest of this season,” it said.

Punjab, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan had been experiencing higher temperatures at at night because of the warm and humid winds blowing across the northern plains. However, the mercury will now drop by 2°C to 3°C in these regions as dry and icy winds have begun to blow from the north.