Colder winter likely in central, north-west, peninsular regions during Dec-Feb, says IMD
People warm themselves on a cold morning, in Srinagar, Sunday
| Photo Credit:
PTI
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a “normal to below-normal” temperature in the agricultural regions of Madhya Pradesh, north Gujarat, south-east Rajasthan, south-west Uttar Pradesh and eastern Maharashtra during the three-month winter season (December-February). This will likely aid to the growth of rabi crops and help in bumper harvest.
Briefing media on the outlook for the winter season, IMD’s Director-General, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said that the western Himalayan region, the foothills of the Himalayas, the northeastern states, and parts of eastern and western India may experience above-normal maximum temperatures. However, he did not elaborate likely temperature during February, which is key for a good crop output, particularly in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
The IMD is expecting 4-5 ‘extra’ days from normal 4-6 days of cold wave conditions in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and some parts of Maharashtra. During the season, maximum temperatures are expected to be normal to below normal across most parts of the country, he said.
Another cold spell
Highlighting that the season’s first spell of cold to severe cold wave conditions started early in isolated pockets over west, central and adjoining east India (north-east Rajasthan, south Haryana, north Madhya Pradesh, south Uttar Pradesh and north Chhattisgarh) during November 8-18, and over north interior Maharashtra during November 15-20, he said another cold wave spell is expected in parts of north-west and central regions during December 3-5.
On the ENSO conditions, he said that weak La Niña conditions to continue during December, before it turns to neutral phase in January-March, IMD said.
Mohapatra also said that the monthly rainfall for December over south peninsular region — Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikkal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalaseema, Kerala, Mahe and south interior Karnataka — is most likely to be normal, which is 69-131 per cent of its Long Period Average (LPA) of 43 mm.
Published on December 1, 2025
