PTC NEWS Weather-newshttps://www.ptcnews.tvenPTC NEWS Weather-newshttps://ptcnews-wp.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ptcnews-logo.jpghttps://www.ptcnews.tvPTC News provide the latest Punjab news and top stories from across Punjab Find Punjab news headlines, photos, videos, photo gallery and political issues.<![CDATA[ India to witness abnormally warm winters ahead, IMD predicts above normal temperatures ]]>PTC News Desk: The slew of abnormally warm winter continues  with India facing warm December ahead. This follows India’s third-warmest November in 123 years behind only 1979 and 2023.


The mercury in the national capital is currently hovering a few degrees above average, ranging from 24 to 28°C during the day and 10 to 13°C at night. The weather department's winter forecast indicates that both day and night temperatures across much of India are expected to stay above normal not only in December but throughout the entire winter season, from December to February. However, the southern peninsula may be an exception to this trend.


“There is a high probability of higher temperatures this season, especially in the core-cold zone, including plains of Northwest India and Central India. The number of cold wave days are also expected to be below-normal," said IMD chief Dr M Mohapatra. 


“The long-term data suggests that the number of years with above-normal rains in November has declined substantially after 2001. There is a trend for reduced rains in this month somehow. This year too, we saw almost no western disturbances over the plains," added Dr Mohapatra.

]]><![CDATA[ तमिलनाडु में बारिश ने मचाया कहर, 4 जिलों में 31 लोगों की मौत, केंद्र ने आवंटित किए 900 करोड़ रुपये ]]>ब्यूरोः तमिलनाडु में भारी बारिश कहर मचा रही है। तमिलनाडु के 4 जिलों में 31 लोगों की मौत हो गई है। इसको लेकर केंद्रीय वित्त मंत्री निर्मला सीतारमण ने खुलासा किया है। सीतारमण ने कहा कि केंद्र ने बारिश से प्रभावित राज्य की सहायता के लिए चालू वित्तीय वर्ष में तत्काल उपयोग के लिए दो किश्तों में 900 करोड़ रुपये आवंटित किए।

Weather

पत्रकारों को संबोधित करते हुए सीतारमण ने चेन्नई के क्षेत्रीय मौसम विज्ञान केंद्र की उन्नत पूर्वानुमान क्षमताओं पर प्रकाश डाला, जिसने 17 दिसंबर को तेनकासी, कन्याकुमारी, तिरुनेलवेली और तूतीकोरिन में भारी बारिश की सटीक भविष्यवाणी की थी। सीतारमण ने डीएमके मंत्री मनो थंगराज के दावों को खारिज कर दिया, जिसमें मौसम अपडेट में देरी का सुझाव दिया गया था। 

Weather

एमके स्टालिन के आरोपों का दिया जवाब  

सीतारमण ने 2015 की अत्यधिक वर्षा के बाद प्रदान की गई 4,000 करोड़ रुपये की सहायता का संदर्भ दिया, यह दर्शाता है कि बेहतर प्रबंधन से हालिया संकट को कम किया जा सकता था। केंद्र सरकार से अपर्याप्त राहत निधि के संबंध में मुख्यमंत्री एमके स्टालिन के आरोपों का जवाब देते हुए, सीतारमण ने राज्य सरकार के स्वतंत्र राहत प्रयासों पर प्रकाश डाला, गंभीर रूप से प्रभावित क्षेत्रों के लिए 6,000 रुपये की वित्तीय सहायता और अन्य जिलों में प्रभावित लोगों के लिए 1,000 रुपये प्रति परिवार का हवाला दिया। इस बीच राष्ट्रीय आपदा प्रतिक्रिया बल यानी एनडीआरएफ ने गंभीर रूप से प्रभावित जिलों में से एक थूथुकुडी में सहायता की, जबकि तेनकासी और कन्याकुमारी भी 17 और 18 दिसंबर को भारी वर्षा से प्रेरित बाढ़ से जूझ रहे थे।

]]><![CDATA[ हरियाणा और पंजाब के अधिकांश हिस्सों में पड़ रही कड़ाके की सर्दी, 3.4 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक पहुंचा न्यूनतम तापमान ]]>ब्यूरो : शुक्रवार को पंजाब और हरियाणा के अधिकांश हिस्सों में कड़ाके की ठंड के कारण लुधियाना में न्यूनतम तापमान 3.4 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक पहुंच गया। पंजाब के अन्य स्थानों के अलावा, अमृतसर में भी ठंड की स्थिति बनी रही, जहां न्यूनतम तापमान 4.8 डिग्री सेल्सियस और पटियाला में 5 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया।

मौसम विभाग के अनुसार, बठिंडा में भी 6 डिग्री तापमान के साथ ठंडी रात महसूस की गई। फरीदकोट, गुरदासपुर और फिरोजपुर में भी ठंडी रात रही, जहां उनका न्यूनतम तापमान 5.4 डिग्री सेल्सियस, 5.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस और 5.9 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया।

हरियाणा में, हिसार में कड़ाके की ठंड पड़ी, जहां न्यूनतम तापमान 3.8 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया। करनाल में भी ठंड की स्थिति बनी रही, जहां न्यूनतम तापमान 5.1 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया। अंबाला, नारनौल और रोहतक भी कड़ाके की ठंड की चपेट में रहे, जहां न्यूनतम तापमान 5.9 डिग्री सेल्सियस, 4.8 डिग्री सेल्सियस और 6.6 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया।

]]><![CDATA[ Orange alert in Delhi as city records April’s hottest day in 5 years ]]> As per the IMD, Delhi, at a sizzling 42.4 degree Celsius, witnessed its hottest April day in five years on Saturday. The national capital recorded a high temperature of 43.2 degree Celsius on April 21, 2017. Delhi had recorded the highest maximum temperature for the month on April 29, 1941, at 45.6 degrees Celsius. The weather department stated that this is for the first time in 72 years that the national capital has recorded such a high temperature in the first half of April. Orange alert in Delhi amid severe heatwave (1) The maximum temperature at the Safdarjung monitoring station on Friday was 41.6 degrees Celsius. Also Read | Congress appoints Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as party's Punjab chief Gurugram, on the other hand, saw a maximum temperature of 44.5 degrees Celsius, which was 10 degrees above average and extremely near to the all-time high of 44.8 degrees Celsius set on April 28, 1979, in Gurugram. The maximum temperature was recorded at 45.2 degrees Celsius in Faridabad, Haryana. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow alert for Monday, even though Delhi is likely to experience slight relief from the heat on Monday. IMD asks people to avoid sun exposure amid heatwave, sounds alert For weather alerts, the IMD uses four colour codes: green (no action required), yellow (watch and remain updated), orange (be prepared), and red (take action). From Tuesday, cloudy conditions are expected to provide some relief from the blistering heat, according to the IMD. Since last week, parts of the national capital have been experiencing a heatwave, with maximum temperatures reaching above 40 degrees Celsius. Northwest India records highest temperature in 122 years According to IMD officials, a prolonged dry spell in northwest India has resulted in "severe" hot weather conditions and the region, as well as adjoining parts of central India, is expected to see more intense and frequent heatwaves in April. This March was India's warmest in 122 years, with a severe heatwave scorching significant portions of the country throughout the month. The dearth of rainfall in the absence of active western disturbances over north India, according to the IMD, is to blame for the heat. Also Read | Imran Khan loses no-trust vote, ousted as Pakistan PM -PTC News ]]><![CDATA[ IMD predicts extreme weather conditions for Punjab, Read details ]]> Also Read: CM Bhagwant Mann announces doorstep ration delivery scheme in Punjab Alert-issued-for-northern-states-5 "Light to moderate rainfall activity very likely to continue over Northeast India during next 5 days with a possibility of isolated heavy falls over Assam-Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh on 31 March 2022 and 01 April 2022," predicted IMD. IMD also predicted heatwaves in isolated pockets over South Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu division on 29 March 2022 and 30 March 2022. Meanwhile, the weather forecasting agency has predicted severe heatwave conditions in most parts of West Rajasthan, East Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh on 29 March and 30 March, with heatwave like conditions in isolated pockets over these areas from 31 March 2022 t0 02 April 2022. Also Read| Padma Awards 2022: Covaxin makers, late Kalyan Singh, Neeraj Chopra among 74 honoured by President -PTC News   ]]><![CDATA[ IMD predicts rainfall for 15 States/UTs over next 5 day ]]> The weather agency has warned of cold day conditions in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and a fog alert has been issued in Odisha, West Bengal and Rajasthan. The temperatures are likely to drop in Chandigarh and east Rajasthan. Also Read | People should learn to live with Covid-19: Top infectious disease expertRainfall-predicted-in-Punjab-5 The weatherman has forecast shallow fog on Wednesday and the minimum and maximum temperatures are likely to hover around 11 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius respectively. Rainfall-predicted-in-Punjab-4 The IMD said minimum temperatures are likely to rise by two to four degrees Celsius in Northwest India during the next five days, under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance. Also Read | In US, 9.5 mn children hit by Covid-19 A fog alert has been issued in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh for the next two days, the IMD said. The visibility may also be reduced due to the persistence of shallow to moderate fog in these regions. -PTC News ]]><![CDATA[ IMD predicts cold day conditions in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi ]]> During the next 24 hours, dense to very dense fog will be evident at isolated locations in the national capital, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, according to a statement issued by the IMD. "From January 18, a new Western Disturbance is expected to hit the Western Himalayan region. From January 21, another Western Disturbance is likely to hit northwest India," predicted the department. The weather forecasting agency in its latest bulletin stated that cold day to severe cold day conditions is very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the next two days. Also Read | Lata Mangeshkar's health condition deteriorating; doctors ask fans to pray for her Furthermore, very dense fog is expected over Rajasthan and East Uttar Pradesh over the next two days, as well as intense fog in the Jammu division and Himachal Pradesh on Sunday and Monday. Very dense fog is expected over West Uttar Pradesh and north Madhya Pradesh over the next two days. Meanwhile, foggy conditions hit various parts of North India on Sunday, reducing visibility in the early hours of the day. As the cold wave struck Madhya Pradesh, a heavy layer of fog hampered visibility in Lucknow, while dense fog engulfed Bhopal. At 8:30 a.m., visibility in Delhi's Palam area plummeted to 1000 metres, according to IMD. On January 16, isolated thunderstorms with lightning are expected over Telangana and Coastal Andhra Pradesh, while isolated to scattered light or moderate rainfall is expected over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, as well as Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Also Read | India’s Navdeep Kaur bags Best National Costume award at Mrs World 2022 -PTC News ]]><![CDATA[ Temperature hovers below normal at most places in Punjab, Haryana ]]>Temperature hovers below normal at most places in Punjab, Haryana In Haryana, Ambala recorded a high of 36.7 degrees Celsius, down one notch against normal while Karnal's maximum settled at 37 degrees Celsius, one notch below normal limits. Hisar had a hot day at 40.9 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Ludhiana and Patiala recorded maximum temperatures of 36.3 and 36.6 degrees Celsius, down one and two notches respectively. Amritsar's maximum settled at 37.6 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal limits. PTI ]]><![CDATA[ Rain in parts of north, northeast India; Assam flood situation worsens affecting more than 4.5 lakh people ]]>Rain in parts of north, northeast India; Assam flood situation worsens affecting more than 4.5 lakh people In the national capital, the maximum temperature settled at 36.8 degrees Celsius and the minimum was recorded at 28.4 degrees Celsius. The humidity level oscillated between 42 and 71 per cent, weather department officials said. Mercury dropped sharply across Punjab and Haryana after the region was lashed by rain. Rain in parts of north, northeast India; Assam flood situation worsens affecting more than 4.5 lakh people Chandigarh, which received rain in the morning, recorded a maximum temperature of 30.7 degrees Celsius, seven notches below normal. In Punjab, Ludhiana and Patiala recorded maximum temperatures of 29.9 and 29.4 degrees Celsius after heavy downpour. Amritsar, too, was lashed by rain and the maximum settled at 31.1 degrees Celsius, eight degrees below normal. In Haryana, Ambala recorded a high of 30 degrees Celsius and Karnal's maximum settled at 27.5 degree Celsius, 10 notches below normal. In Rajasthan, Churu was the hottest place with a maximum of 40.9 degrees Celsius. Jaisalmer, Kota, Jaipur, Barmer and Bikaner recorded their maximums at 40.5, 39.8, 39.7, 39.6 and 39.5 degrees Celsius, respectively. Rain in parts of north, northeast India; Assam flood situation worsens affecting more than 4.5 lakh people The weather department has predicted thunderstorm with light rain at isolated places in the state. Thunderstorm or dust storm, accompanied with gusty winds, are very likely at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh today. According to the India Meteorological Department, the Southwest Monsoon has weakened after remaining "very active" during the first half of June and is expected to revive in the next five-six days. An official said the "lull" in monsoon activity was normal. "The further advance of the Southwest Monsoon has weakened. It was very active until June 15, but there is a lull now. However, it expected to revive in the next five-six days," IMD Additional Director-General Mritunjay Mohapatra said. Rain in parts of north, northeast India; Assam flood situation worsens affecting more than 4.5 lakh people The southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on June 29, three days ahead of its normal onset and, over the past few days, it had battered parts of the western coast and the northeast. For Today, the IMD has predicted "heavy to very heavy rain" at a few places in Konkan, Goa and coastal Karnataka and heavy rain in parts of the sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, central Maharashtra and Kerala. "Thunderstorm accompanied with squall are very likely at isolated places over Punjab while thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds and lightning are very likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Marathawada," the IMD said. The flood situation in Assam continued to deteriorate with five more people losing their lives since saturday. More than 4.5 lakh people have been affected in the deluge across six districts. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), five persons lost their lives in flood-related incidents in three districts. With this, the death toll has climbed to 12 in the first wave of flood in Assam this year. The ASDMA said over 4.48 lakh people have been affected in Hojai, Karbi Anglong West, Golaghat, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar districts. Till yesterday, 4.25 lakh people were affected across seven districts in Assam. PTI ]]><![CDATA[ Heatwave spell continues in north India ]]>Heatwave spell continues in north India The national capital braved another hot day today with the maximum temperature settling at 41.2 degrees Celsius, two notches above the normal for the season. The MeT department has forecast partly cloudy skies with strong surface winds for tomorrow. Heatwave spell continues in north India The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 42 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. The hot weather condition prevailed in most parts of Punjab and Haryana with the mercury settling at an identical 44 degrees Celsius at Hisar and Bhiwani, making these the warmest places in the region. Heatwave spell continues in north India The mercury remained between one to two notches above normal in the region, the MeT office here said. The MeT forecast dry weather in the region during the next two days. In Rajasthan, the maximum temperature increased by one to two notches in most parts of the state with Sriganganagar being the hottest at 48.1 degree Celsius. Heatwave spell continues in north India Several other places like Bikaner (46.8 degrees Celsius), Jaisalmer (46.2), Churu (46), Barmer (45.9) faced the scorching sun with temperatures touching, or, going beyond 46 degrees Celsius. The MeT department has forecast duststorm with light rain at isolated places in east Rajasthan and heatwave conditions in one or two pockets of west Rajasthan. PTI ]]><![CDATA[ Powerful cyclone strikes Oman, Yemen; 5 dead, 30 missing ]]> The storm killed at least five people while more than 30 remain missing, officials said. Cyclone Mekunu caused flash flooding that tore away whole roadways and submerged others in Salalah, Oman's third-largest city, stranding drivers. Strong winds knocked over street lights and tore away roofing. Powerful cyclone strikes Oman, Yemen; 5 dead, 30 missing Rushing waters from the rain and storm surges flooded typically dry creek beds. The holiday destination's now-empty tourist beaches were littered with debris and foam from the churning Arabian Sea. Powerful cyclone strikes Oman, Yemen; 5 dead, 30 missing Three people, including a 12-year-old girl, died in Oman, and another two bodies were recovered from the Yemeni island of Socotra. More than 30 people were still missing in Socotra, including Yemeni, Indian and Sudanese nationals. Powerful cyclone strikes Oman, Yemen; 5 dead, 30 missing Yemeni officials also reported damage in the country's far east, along the border with Oman. Rageh Bakrit, the governor of al-Mahra province, said on his official Twitter account late yesterday that strong winds had blown down houses and taken out communication lines and water services. He said there were no fatalities in the province. Powerful cyclone strikes Oman, Yemen; 5 dead, 30 missing India's Meteorological Department said the storm packed maximum sustained winds of 170-180 kilometers (105-111 miles) per hour with gusts of up to 200 kph (124 mph). It called the cyclone "extremely severe." Portions of Salalah, home to some 200,000 people, lost power as the cyclone made landfall. Branches and leaves littered the streets. Several underpasses became standing lakes. Some cars were left abandoned on the road. Electrical workers began trying to repair lines in the city while police and soldiers in SUVs patrolled the streets. On the outskirts of the city, near the Salalah International Airport, what once was a dry creek bed had become a raging river. The airport, closed since Thursday, will reopen early Sunday, Oman's Public Authority for Civil Aviation said. The Port of Salalah — a key gateway for the country and for Qatar amid a regional diplomatic dispute — remained closed, its cranes secured against the pounding rain and winds. Omani forecasters said Salalah and the surrounding area would get at least 200 millimeters (7.87 inches) of rain, over twice the city's annual downfall. It actually received 278.2 mm, nearly three times its annual rainfall. Authorities remained worried about flash flooding in the area's valleys and potential mudslides down its nearby cloud-shrouded mountains. In nearby Wadi Darbat, the storm's rains supercharged its famous waterfall. Police and others continued their rescue efforts even as the winds and rains calmed. Capt. Tarek al-Shanfari of the Royal Oman Police's public relations department said there had been at least three fatalities in the storm, including the death of a 12-year-old girl who was hit in the head by a door flung open by the wind. An Asian labourer died in a flooded valley and an Omani national in a 4x4 died when his vehicle was swept away, al-Shanfari said. On Socotra, authorities relocated over 230 families to sturdier buildings and other areas, including those more inland and in the island's mountains, Yemeni security officials said. Flash floods engulfed Socotra's streets, cutting electricity and communication lines. Some humanitarian aid from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates arrived on the island just hours after the cyclone receded. Yemeni security officials said rescuers recovered two bodies on Socotra, while more than 30 people remain missing. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief reporters. The island, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, has been the focus of a dispute between the UAE and Yemen's internationally recognized government, which are ostensibly allied against Shiite rebels known as Houthis. Socotra has a unique ecosystem and is home to plants, snails and reptiles that can be found nowhere else. In Oman, Mohammed Omer Baomer warned his neighbours about a torn-away chunk of road just down the street from his home after earlier getting his SUV stuck over it. "It was a scary feeling, as if it was the end of world," he said of the cyclone. "You can't even go outside. You try to watch from the window and you can't." Yet even as Mekunu barrelled overhead, the eye of the storm provided a moment's respite early this morning. At one luxury hotel in Salalah, which already had evacuated its guests, workers sat down early for "suhoor," a meal Muslims eat before sunrise during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. They laughed and shared plates by flashlight in a darkened ballroom, the cyclone's wind a dull roar behind their clatter. (AP) ]]><![CDATA[ Shimla lashed by severe thunderstorm, rain ]]>Shimla lashed by severe thunderstorm, rain Dark convective clouds overcast the sky, reducing the visibility and vehicles had to move at snail's pace with headlights on even during the day time. Strong winds, lightening and intermittent showers forced the tourists and locals to stay indoors. Rohtang Pass, gateway to tribal Lahaul valley was closed again as the pass recorded 40 cm of snow while Marhi, Koksar, Sisu, Gondla, Keylong and Udaipur had 20 cm, 15 cm, 12 cm, 7 cm, 5 cm and 2 cm of fresh snow. Shimla lashed by severe thunderstorm, rain The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the lower hills for next five days upto April 25, rains and thunder showers in mid hills and rains or snow in higher hills tomorrow and dry weather from April 22. The stormy conditions are causing anxiety to farmers as rain, storm and snow during this period is damaging for stone fruit, apple and wheat crops. PTI ]]><![CDATA[ North India likely to experience rains due to western disturbance: IMD ]]>North India likely to experience rains due to western disturbance: IMD "The maximum temperatures are very likely to be near/below normal over most parts of the country except parts of east India. Hence, no major heat wave spell is expected over any part of country during the next one week," the Indian Meteorological Department said. "Under the influence of an approaching western disturbance, fairly widespread to widespread precipitation with isolated thunder squalls and hailstorms are very likely over the Western Himalayan region (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) during next two days," it said. Isolated thunderstorms accompanied with squalls and gusty winds are also likely in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, north Rajasthan and northwest Uttar Pradesh during the next two days, the IMD said. Western disturbance is a low pressure area or a trough over surface or the upper-air in the westerly winds regime and it is accompanied by clouds, with or without precipitation. It originates in the Caspian Sea or the Mediterranean Sea as extra-tropical cyclones. They gradually travel across the Middle East and then from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, enter the Indian sub-continent. After this phenomena, weather would be dry thereafter over most parts of the northwest, the Met department said. Under the influence of the western disturbance, relative humidity would rise over most parts of northwest and central India. PTI ]]><![CDATA[ Cold conditions persist in Punjab, Haryana ]]> Among other places in Punjab, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala recorded respective minimum temperatures at 6.4 degrees Celsius, 10.2 degrees Celsius and 10.6 degrees Celsius, up to four notches above normal. In Haryana, Ambala's minimum was 11.9 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal, while Bhiwani, Hisar, Karnal and Narnaul experienced cold weather conditions at 11 degrees Celsius, 9 degrees Celsius, 8.8 degrees Celsius and 9.5 degrees Celsius, up to four notches above normal. Maximum temperatures in Punjab and Haryana also hovered around three to five degrees above normal and were in the range between 22 to 25 degrees Celsius. ]]><![CDATA[ Freezing Tokyo sees most ambulance calls for 80 years ]]>Tokyo's ambulance service has experienced its busiest day in more than 80 years, officials said today, amid icy conditions as the Japanese capital shivers through its coldest temperatures in decades.

The Tokyo fire department, which runs the ambulance service, said it had responded to 2,826 calls on Wednesday following rare and heavy snow that sparked chaos in one of the world's most populous cities.

"Generally, we receive more calls in winter. But we think the combination of influenza, heavy snow and cold weather contributed to the record high number," a fire department spokesman told AFP. 

The number of emergency call-outs was the highest since the service began in 1936 and well above the average of around 2,000.

The annual number of emergency calls has been on the rise for the past eight years in Tokyo, the spokesman added.

As a cold snap grips Japan, the mercury in Tokyo dropped to minus four degrees Celsius (25 degrees Fahrenheit), the coldest in 48 years, according to Japan's Meteorological Agency.

And the government warned the glacial conditions in Tokyo would continue.

"The weather agency has issued a low temperature warning for Tokyo for the first time in 33 years ... The cold weather will continue until Saturday," deputy government spokesman Kotaro Nogami told reporters. 

A rare heavy blanket of snow in Tokyo on Tuesday left thousands of travellers stranded and scores injured.

Japan's weather agency recorded as much as 23 centimetres of snow in some parts of Tokyo, the biggest snowfall since February 2014.

The weather paralysed Monday evening's commute as millions of workers battled to get home on the city's famously crowded transport system.(AFP)

]]><![CDATA[ Fresh snow in HP, U'khand; rains cheer farmers in plains ]]><![CDATA[ Thousands stranded, scores injured in snowbound Tokyo ]]> Notoriously hard-working Japanese employees were urged to knock off early[/caption] Public broadcaster NHK said at least 180 people had sustained minor injuries on the frozen streets and there had been around 700 traffic accidents, police said. Cars became trapped in a tunnel, sparking a 10- kilometre-long tailback from Monday evening through early morning today, broadcasters said. And for the second day running, dozens of domestic and international flights departing from and arriving at the Japanese capital were scrapped due to the snow, with more than 9,000 people stranded overnight at Narita airport, officials said. Airport officials and airline staff handed out water, snacks and sleeping bags to the unlucky passengers. "I had planned to visit the US after graduating from university but my flight was cancelled. Why today?" an exasperated female student told NHK. Heavy snowfall is common in northern areas of Japan but rare in the capital, which last saw this amount of snow in 2014.[caption id="attachment_102871" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Heavy snowfall is common in northern areas of Japan Heavy snowfall is common in northern areas of Japan[/caption] The sun was shining brightly on Tuesday morning, but forecasters predict the mercury will stay well below zero this week, causing treacherous roads, and warned of more injuries. The greater Tokyo area will see lows of minus six degrees Celsius (21.2 degree Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, the weather agency said. [caption id="attachment_102874" align="aligncenter" width="300"]greater Tokyo area will see lows of minus six degrees Celsius greater Tokyo area will see lows of minus six degrees Celsius[/caption] "It's rare to have sub-zero temperatures for a few days in the Tokyo area, and that would freeze the snow," agency official Kenji Okada told AFP. "In the past, we have seen a lot of injuries caused by slipping and falling. Simply walking can be dangerous," he said. ]]><![CDATA[ Punjab: Weather has been dry in the state, with no change in day temperature ]]><![CDATA[ Autumn has seated in Punjab already ]]><![CDATA[ Its raining happiness in the state and becoming sadness for the potholes ]]>Heavy rain in Chandigarh and Punjab let to potholes There was rain in several parts of Punjab and Haryana, disrupting traffic and leaving many arterial roads flooded. The overnight showers also brought the mercury down, the MeT said on Saturday.The arterial roads in Mohali, Chandigarh, Zirakpur and some other areas were flooded, causing inconvenience to commuters. Heavy rain in Chandigarh and Punjab let to potholes An official of the meteorological department said the Union Territory of Chandigarh recorded a rainfall of 57.1 mm since Friday.In Haryana, Ambala recorded 14.2 mm rainfall, Kaithal 61 mm, Karnal 45.2 mm, Panchkula 39 mm, Panipat 43 mm, Faridabad 152 mm and Sonepat 122 mm, the weatherman said.Among the cities in Punjab, Gurdaspur recorded 52 mm rainfall, Samrala in Ludhiana (87 mm), Ropar (100 mm), Balachaur in Nawanshahr (94.2 mm), Nabha in Patiala (45.1 mm), Fatehgarh Sahib (18 mm), Anandpur Sahib (48 mm) and Hoshiarpur (16 mm), he added. -PTC News ]]>