NEW DELHI: Expect a relatively mild winter this season with minimum temperatures likely to be generally above normal across India over the next three months, day conditions warmer than usual in much of the country and lower-than normal number of cold wave days in the north, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday.
The department’s winter forecast for the country is in line with expectations in an El Nino year, when winters in India are usually warmer than normal.
Releasing its outlook for the December-February period, IMD said above normal maximum temperatures are likely over 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 south Haryana, west UP as well south and east 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 in most of the south and parts of east India, the depart ment said.
IMD said the season could see below-normal number of cold waves over north, northwest, central, east and northeast parts of country. In north India, cold wave and ‘cold day’ conditions are synonymous with extreme chill during the winter season.
IMD’s seasonal forecasts are meant to be indicative of the general trend during the period. In other words, while temperatures are expected to be above-normal on average during the season, extreme weather conditions are not entirely 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 over the country and maximum temper atures likely to be above-normal over most parts except some areas of central India and north India. IMD said rainfall during December was “most likely” to be above normal over the northwest and adjoining areas of central and east India, and some areas of extreme south. Below-normal rain is expected over many parts of the northeast, north peninsular India and adjoining areas of central India.
Meanwhile, IMD said last month was the warmest November ever recorded in India in terms of mean temperatures, which were 1.09 degrees C higher than the long period average. Earlier, India had recorded its warmest months of August and September as well as the monsoon season in terms of mean temperatures.
The department’s winter forecast for the country is in line with expectations in an El Nino year, when winters in India are usually warmer than normal.
Releasing its outlook for the December-February period, IMD said above normal maximum temperatures are likely over 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 south Haryana, west UP as well south and east 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 in most of the south and parts of east India, the depart ment said.
IMD said the season could see below-normal number of cold waves over north, northwest, central, east and northeast parts of country. In north India, cold wave and ‘cold day’ conditions are synonymous with extreme chill during the winter season.
IMD’s seasonal forecasts are meant to be indicative of the general trend during the period. In other words, while temperatures are expected to be above-normal on average during the season, extreme weather conditions are not entirely 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 over the country and maximum temper atures likely to be above-normal over most parts except some areas of central India and north India. IMD said rainfall during December was “most likely” to be above normal over the northwest and adjoining areas of central and east India, and some areas of extreme south. Below-normal rain is expected over many parts of the northeast, north peninsular India and adjoining areas of central India.
Meanwhile, IMD said last month was the warmest November ever recorded in India in terms of mean temperatures, which were 1.09 degrees C higher than the long period average. Earlier, India had recorded its warmest months of August and September as well as the monsoon season in terms of mean temperatures.