Isolated rain or snow is likely to occur over western Himalayas. Cold wave conditions are likely t occure over most parts of northwest India.

Isolated rain or thundershowers are likely in south Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

CROP SITUATION - WHEAT: The sowing of wheat in northern states is almost nearing completion. The prevailing day and night mean temperature has been quite suitable for wheat sowing, growth and development in UP, MP, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar and Haryana. The total area coverage under wheat crop in this season is 202.19 lakh hectare as compared to 198.99 lakh hecare covered in the correspondin period in the previous year and as against the normal area of 264.4 lakh hectare.

Wheat sowing acreage progression is more by 3 lakh hectare in UP, more by about one lakh hectare in MP as compared to the correspondingperiod in the previous year. Rains received in eastern UP have brightened the prospects for more area coverage in UP. Wheat sowing is almost complete in Haryana and Punjab and the sowing has exceeded the normal areas in these states.

RABI RICE: Preparatory arrangement for raising nursery as well as for transplanting of rabi rice are in progress. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have reported area coverage under rabi rice which is 15.79 lakh hectare as compared to 17.54 lakh hectare during the corresponding period in the previous year.

RABI COARSE CEREALS: Sowing of rabi coarse cereals, namely jowar, barley and maize is continuing. The area coverage under rabi jowar has already exceeded the normal area of 54.6 lakh hectare by about 4 lakh hectare. In the corresponding period in the previous year the area coverage under rabi jowar was only 46.1 lakh hectare. In case of Maharashtra and Karnataka, last year a part of the area for rabi jowar was diverted to wheat in order to makeuse of available moisture in soil due to excess rains in October, 1998.

RABI OILSEEDS: Sowing of rabi oilseeds is continuing. Area coverage under rabi oilseeds so far is about 86.44 lakh hectare as compared to 92.86 lakh hectare in the corresponding period of the previous year and as against the normal area coverage of 107 lakh hectare.

Rapeseeds and mustard sowing is almost complete and about 63.37 lakh hectare has been covered so far as compared to 67.43 lakh hectare sown in the corresponding period last year. Area coverage is less by about 2.5 lakh hectare in Rajasthan and by about one lakh hectare in Haryana.

Normal area under rabi grooundnut is about 10.9 lakh hectare. its sowing progression is lagging behind by about 0.7 lakh hectare. Normal area under sunflower is about 11.5 lakh hectare and the area sown so far is 6.73 lakh hectare as compared to 7.62 lakh hectare covered in the corresponding period last year.

RABI PULSES: Sowing of rabi pulses is continuing. Normal area underits coverage is about 120 lakh hectare, out of which about 110.80 lakh hectare has been sown as compared to 125.17 lakh hectare sown last year in the corresponding period.

Sowing of Bengal gram is complete and area coverage is about 61.7 lakh hectare as compared to 77.55 lakh hectare covered in the corresponding period last year. Area coverage is less by about 13 lakh hectare in Rajasthan, by about 3 lakh hectare in Haryana and by about 0.6 lakh hectare in Gujarat, primarily due to deficient and scanty rains in the monsoon period.

PREVIOUS WEEK'S REVIEW: During the week ended January 12, two western disturbances moved across northwest India and caused rain or snow at many places in J&K, at a few places in Himachal Pradesh and at isolated places in the hills of west UP. Rain or thundershowers also occurred at a few places in Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and at isolated places in coastal Karnataka and Kerala.

Cold wave conditions prevailed inmost parts of J&K, plains of UP and Bihar and some parts of Rajasthan, north central Maharashtra, Marathawada, MP. Assam, Meghalaya, and Vidarbha in the first half of the week. Night temperatures were above normal by 4 to 5 degree centigrade in J&K, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, west MP, central Maharashtra in the latter half of the week and by 2 to 3 degree centigrade in east MP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry on some days of the week. The lowest minimum temperature in the plains of the country was 1.8 degree centigrade recorded at Pilani in Rajasthan on January 7.