Weather Update: India is currently facing the wrath of cold waves in many parts. The temperature is continuously falling in Delhi-NCR. Likewise, many parts of Northwest India and isolated parts of Madhya Pradesh are witnessing cooler temperatures, ranging from 1-5 degrees Celsius. 

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The Indian Meteorological Department said that cold-to-severe-cold conditions prevailed in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and west Madhya Pradesh. 

Besides, some areas of east Rajasthan; isolated pockets of west Rajasthan, Bihar, and some isolated pockets of Uttarakhand may also witness cold wave conditions, the weather department also said.  

With temperatures falling down, the air quality in Delhi-NCR has reached the severe category, forcing the government to reimpose the Stage-III of GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) and ban construction works in the entire NCR except for Railways, Delhi Metro, and some other departments. 

The metrological department predicted that the due to continuation of prevailing light winds and high moisture near the surface over Indo-Gangetic plains, dense to very dense fog is very likely to continue in some/many parts during the night and morning hours over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh during next 24 hours and over Uttar Pradesh during next 48 hours; in isolated pockets thereafter for subsequent 3-4 days over the region. 

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The weather department added that due to the approaching of two Western Disturbances in quick succession, minimum temperatures may rise gradually by 3-5 degree Celsius over many parts of Northwest India during the next three days, and no significant change during the subsequent three days. 

Delhi's overall AQI spiked to 438 on Friday, as per the AQI bulletin provided by the CPCB. The air quality index (AQI) at various hotspots in Delhi-NCR reached the severe category, including Mathura Road (440), Patparganj (448), Nehru Nagar (462), Sahibabad (452) and Noida Sector-62 (426). 

Weather Update: Rajasthan 
The lowest minimum temperature of 0 degree Celsius was observed at Bikaner in Rajasthan, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. 

Weather Update: MP 
A third-degree cold wave was observed in Bhopal. The minimum temperature in Naugaon reached 0.2 degrees. Frost alert in Tikamgarh, Niwari and Chhatarpur districts including Gwalior Chambal division, possibility of cold wave in Chhatarpur, Datia and Gwalior Chambal region, forecast of dense fog in Chhatarpur for the next 24 hours. 

In contrast to this, the year 2022 was considered as the fifth warmest for India since 1901 when India Meteorological Department started keeping weather records.  

The annual mean land surface air temperature was 0.51 degrees Celsius above the long-term average which is the mean temperature for the 1981-2010 period, however, this was lower than the highest warming observed in India in 2016 when the average temperature was 0.71 degrees Celsius, the weather office said in the statement on Climate of India during 2022. 

(With the inputs of PTI)