Rajasthans only hill station Mount Abu freezes at minus 7°C as cold wave tightens grip on state
Another western disturbance is likely to affect Rajasthan and northwest India between January 26 and 28
PTC Web Desk: A severe cold wave sweeping across northern and northwest India has pushed temperatures in Rajasthan’s only hill station, Mount Abu, to extreme levels, with Saturday emerging as the coldest day of the season so far. The mercury reportedly dipped to minus 7 degrees Celsius, triggering widespread frost and freezing water bodies across the region.
Defying the usual easing of winter conditions after Basant Panchami, Mount Abu has seen an unusual intensification of cold. Grasslands, ponds and small reservoirs were found frozen solid on Saturday morning, resembling thick ice sheets commonly seen inside deep freezers.
The impact of the cold was evident across several rural pockets, including Salgaon and the Chand Mari firing range, where thick layers of frozen dew blanketed open fields. Ponds in nearby areas remained sealed under hard ice well into the day, while icy winds worsened the chill.
Despite weak sunshine after sunrise, temperatures showed little improvement. Even after 9 am, locals were seen warming themselves around roadside bonfires, highlighting the severity of the conditions. The intense cold persisted through the evening and night, making it one of the harshest winter spells witnessed in recent years.
Tourists visiting Mount Abu expressed shock at the biting cold, particularly as many expected milder weather after Basant Panchami. Several visitors said the chill was far harsher than in their home cities. Wrapped in heavy woollens, tourists were seen rubbing their hands, sipping hot tea and snacks, and keeping their hands tucked into pockets to cope with the freezing temperatures.
Elsewhere in Rajasthan, night temperatures dropped sharply under the influence of a western disturbance. Lunkaransar in Bikaner recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the state at 0.3 degrees Celsius, followed by Nagaur (0.5°C), Fatehpur (2.3°C), Pali (2.9°C) and Sikar (3.2°C). Jaipur reported a minimum of 9.4 degrees Celsius.
The cold wave followed light rainfall in parts of the state on Friday, when Jaisalmer logged a minimum temperature of 6.2 degrees Celsius.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the ongoing cold conditions are linked to widespread snowfall across the western Himalayan region, triggered by a western disturbance. Heavy snowfall has been reported from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, with fresh snow also recorded in parts of Uttarakhand.
While northwest India has experienced one of its driest winters in recent years, the IMD said the current weather activity may help reduce the rainfall deficit. Weather conditions are expected to improve gradually from Saturday.
However, another western disturbance is likely to affect Rajasthan and northwest India between January 26 and 28, with peak impact expected on January 27. Light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms may occur at isolated locations in western and northern Rajasthan.
The IMD has forecast no major change in minimum temperatures over the next two days, followed by a gradual rise of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius across northwest India.