The India Meteorological Department on Friday predicted widespread rain and snowfall in north, north central parts of the country in the next 24 hours due to western disturbance (WD) with cyclonic circulation located over the north and north central India. Due to WD, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh witnessed cold wave like situation.   The WD will move away in the eastern direction and weaken by Saturday evening.

According to Dr Kuldeep ZSrivastava, a scientist with the IMD, western disturbance is a normal weather phenomenon during winter season to bring down temperature, snowfall and rain several parts of the country. 

"Under the influence of Western Disturbance and its induced cyclonic circulation, widespread rain/snow with isolated heavy falls accompanied with thunderstorm/hailstorm is very likely over Western Himalayan region for next 24 hours.

Fairly widespread to widespread rain with isolated heavy falls accompanied with thunderstorm and hailstorm is also very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh  and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and East Madhya Pradesh during the same period. Western Himalayan region, which includes Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, is likely to witness the maximum intensity of rain and snow on Friday, as per the IMD forecast.

"Thereafter, due to favourable meteorological conditions, dense fog at a few places with very dense fog at isolated pockets very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, north Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in morning hours of December 15 and 16.

According to the IMD, most places in Uttar Pradesh received light to  moderate rainfall and thundershowers on Friday bringing down the mercury in the State. Nainital and Mussoorie and areas around the two Uttarakhand towns  witnessed the season's first snowfall, cheering up the locals and  tourists alike. The famous Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills experienced the season's first snowfall as moderate to heavy snow and rains lashed wide parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for the second consecutive day disrupting normal life.