Snowfall warning for hills; light rain likely in NW plains today

Heavy to very heavy rain is also likely over Kerala, Mahe and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during the next 24 hours

Rain and snowfall is likely today over the Western Himalayas and light rain is expected in some parts of the northwestern plains including Punjab, Haryana, northeast Rajasthan and West Uttar Pradesh, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).

A snow-clearing machine ploughs through a road on the outskirts of Srinagar on January 6. (AP)

Under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance as a cyclonic circulation over western parts of Afghanistan, snowfall in the hills and light rain is likely in the plains today.

Due to a cyclonic circulation over southeast Arabian Sea and another cyclonic circulation over south Tamil Nadu coast, widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls and moderate thunderstorm and lightning is likely over the southern peninsular India during the next 2-3 days.

Heavy to very heavy rain is likely over Kerala, Mahe and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during the next 24 hours.

Under the influence of a trough (area of low pressure) in low level easterlies from Karnataka coast to Maharashtra coast in lower tropospheric levels; isolated to scattered rainfall with moderate thunderstorm and lightning is very likely over Maharashtra during the next 2 days.

Over northwest India, the minimum temperatures are likely to fall by 3 to 4 degree Celsius over most parts during the next 4-5 days.

Cold wave conditions are likely over Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan on January 8 and 9.

Due to abundant moisture available and other favourable meteorological features, dense to very dense fog is likely over parts of Punjab and Haryana and dense fog over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, north Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, north Rajasthan and north Madhya Pradesh is likely today.