Expect a relatively mild winter this season with minimum temperatures likely to be generally above normal across India over the next three months, warmer than normal daytime conditions across most of the country and a below normal number of cold wave days in northern India. This was announced by the meteorological office on Friday.
The department’s winter forecast for the country is in line with expectations in an El Nino year, when India’s winters are usually warmer than usual.
Releasing its outlook for December-February, the IMD said above-normal maximum temperatures are likely in most parts of the country except some areas in northwest and central India where normal to below-normal temperatures are likely. These areas are Delhi, parts of southern Haryana, western UP as well as southern and eastern Rajasthan and many parts of MP, interior Maharashtra and Telangana.
Nights (minimum temperatures) are expected to be warmer than normal across the country, with significantly above-normal temperatures likely over most of south and parts of eastern India, the ministry said.
The IMD said the season could see below-normal number of cold waves in North, North-West, Central, East and North-Eastern parts of the country. In North India, cold waves and ‘cold day’ are synonymous with extreme cold during the winter season.
IMD’s seasonal forecasts are intended to indicate the general trend in a given period. In other words, while temperatures are expected to be above normal on average for the season, extreme weather conditions are not completely ruled out.
The department’s forecast for December was mostly the same as for the rest of the season, with minimum temperatures “most likely” to be above normal across the country and maximum temperatures likely to be above normal in most parts except some parts of central India. and North India. The IMD said rainfall during December is “most likely” to be above normal over northwest and adjoining areas of central and east India and some areas of the extreme south. Below normal rain is expected in many parts of Northeast, North Peninsular India and adjoining areas of Central India.
Meanwhile, the IMD said last month was India’s warmest November on record in terms of average temperatures, which were 1.09 degrees C higher than the long-term average. Earlier, India recorded the hottest months of August and September as well as the monsoon season in terms of average temperatures.
