New Delhi

The national capital on Tuesday recorded a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celcius at 8 am as a cold wave continues to sweep through North India.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said cold wave conditions are very likely to prevail in some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and in isolated pockets over Uttarakhand, east Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, Bihar, Jharkhand during the next 24 hours. In Chhattisgarh and Odisha too, the cold wave conditions are likely to continue for the next 48 hours.

"It is very likely to abate thereafter. Cold day conditions very likely at some places over Madhya Pradesh and in isolated pockets over West Uttar Pradesh during next 24 hours and abate thereafter," it said.

The agency, in its bulletin, has also forecast dense fog in the morning hours in isolated pockets over Punjab and Haryana during December 23-26 and over West Rajasthan during December 24-26.

"Ground frost conditions in the morning hours in isolated pockets very likely over Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan during next 24 hours," the IMD said.

The IMD has also forecast light to moderate isolated/scattered rainfall/snowfall over the Western Himalayan Region during December 22-25, "under the influence of two Western Disturbance".

Light isolated rainfall is also likely over Punjab on December 24, the IMD said.

On Monday, the lowest minimum temperature of -0.5 degrees Celcius was reported at Churu and Sikar of Rajasthan in the plains of the country.