“During the upcoming winter season (December 2024 to February 2025), above-normal minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country,” Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), told reporters here.
According to the forecast, the winter season was expected to witness fewer coldwave days than the normal of five to six.
During the season, above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country, except most areas over south Peninsular India, where normal to below-normal maximum temperatures are likely, he said.
“Normally, we see five to six coldwave days during December to February over the cold core zone, which includes the northwest, central, east and northeast India. This year, we can expect two to four fewer coldwave days compared to average,” Mohapatra said.
According to the IMD, a cold wave is considered if the minimum temperature (T-min) is less than the 10th percentile of the daily climatological value and the climatological daily T-min is less than 15 degrees Celsius. These conditions should be observed for three consecutive days for it to qualify as one coldwave event. Mohapatra said the absence of western disturbances was the reason for a warmer November.
