Skymet weather

5 Ways to protect dandruff in winter

When the weather in India turns cold, one start developing dry and scaly skin, cold and flu become common and dieticians and doctors advice people to eat properly and appropriately to keep warm as the freezing weather of India could lead to various other health problems like sudden high blood pressure, asthma and joint pains. But that’s not all. People often complain of hair trouble i.e. dandruff in the winter months. This often makes hair fall way more, than in colder weather than during the hot weather in India.

Why do we get dandruff in winter?

Cold and dry winds during winter leads to the occurrence of winter dandruff. It can also be caused due the presence of central heating in your house or office that eventually dries out the home and work environment further. Dandruff during winter occurs in the form of smaller and less oily flakes as compared to the other skin conditions. The white dust and flakes that you see in your hair and on your shoulders comprises of dead skin cells.

Resolving this dandruff issue is easy and resolving it in the winters, is easier! Before we list down things that need to be followed, we would suggest what not to do for dandruff. Everyone loves a hot water bath when it’s biting cold outside, but having a bath with very hot water not only makes the skin dry but also aggravates hair troubles further. Besides the use of chemical based shampoos to get rid of dandruff is only a temporary solution. A permanent solution therefore lies in using simple home remedies cited below:

1) Massage hair with sour curd and keep it for 30 to 45 minutes. Now rinse and wash hair with lukewarm water as usual. It would help in getting rid of dandruff.

2) People who have oily dandruff could end their dandruff woes by simply using a lemon. Apply lemon juice to your scalp. Let it stay for a few minutes, until it dries and wash hair normally as you do.

3) Famous Indian herb Methi or Fenugreek also helps in curing dandruff and hair loss. Take a handful of fenugreek seeds and soak them in water overnight. Apply the seeds and use the same water to rinse hair. Avoid washing hair with a chemical shampoo after this. Follow this procedure for couple of weeks for effective elimination of dandruff.

4) Prepare a hair pack by mixing fuller’s earth (a sort of a clay) with lemon juice. Fullers earth is easily available at Ayurvedic stores. This pack will not only remove dandruff but will make the hair shine.

5) Lastly massage your hair with mustard, almond, castor or coconut oil once every week (avoid using readily available, good smelling oils in the market) An oil massage will moisturize the scalp and will prevent it from going dry, keeping dandruff at bay.

Other than these, here are some points to keep in mind:

1) Regular hair wash and massage your scalp - washing your hair regularly and massaging your scalp gently can improve your hair condition. It helps in reducing the white flakes. Also, allows the shampoo to act on your hair for a period of 5 minutes so that the active ingredients can effectively work against the dandruff. Washing hair too frequently with a chemical based shampoo in the winters can also worsen the problem.

2) Use a humidifier - You can use a humidifier at your work place and home that can restore the moisture back into the air. You can go for a cool mist humidifier, as it helps in cleaning and drying of your humidifier regularly.

3) Health diets - take care of your diet as it can go a long way in keeping the dandruff away and maintain the healthy hair. Changing your diet to consume more zinc, omega3 fats, flaxseeds, walnuts, eggs and leafy vegetables and Indian gooseberry (Amla) could help immensely.

Also note, as the climate in India changes, understanding your body needs and therefore changing your habits accordingly becomes essential.

No more hiding your scalp under a cap, just note these simple ways to enjoy the cold weather of India!

Photo by o5com.

 

Save water for the future generations!

We are more aware of our environment than ever. Changes in the global weather patterns and the serious global warming effects have impacted the climate of India faster than imagined. This has posed a threat to our water resources and it won’t be wrong to say that future generations might not be left with a drop of water to drink. As the weather in India is seen changing rapidly with cold winter months turning into warmer months and monsoons going dry, the climate of India might soon witness only the summer season! We all waste water…just think about how long the tap is left running each time you brush your teeth. Saving water now will not just keep some water for our future generations but will also help in saving precious energy and moolah too!

There are a number of ways to save water and they all start with you. These are ten simple ways to save water in our households:

1) Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap. Collect this water to reuse to water plants.

2) Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons/567litres a month. Use a water-efficient shower head. They're inexpensive, easy to install and save large quantities of water.

3) Check for leaks in the toilets, pools and house interiors. Try putting a food coloring substance in your toilet tank; if it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak! Fixing this leak can save up to 1,000 gallons/3785litres a month.

4) Monitor your water bill annually for unusually high use. Your bill and a water meter device are tools that can help you discover leaks, usage and wastage of water. Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions.

5) Parents often teach kids on how to save water and to use it wisely while brushing (we can save 94liters while brushing), but this time also teach them to turn off the faucets tightly after each use. Remember each drop is precious! Also consider brushing your teeth while bathing in the shower.

6) Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and dry weather tolerance. Group plants with the same watering needs to avoid over watering some while under-watering others. Using a rain gauge or using a basic empty can help you track the rainfall on your lawn and reducing your water usage accordingly.

7) Wash your car with plain water on the lawn, and you'll end up watering your lawn at the same time.

8 ) Drop your tissue in the trash instead of flushing it and save water every time.

9) Washing dark clothes in cold water saves both on water and energy while the color of your favorite dress remains intact.

10) Look for products bearing the EPA (Water Sense Label) for items that are certified to save 20% water.

Water covers two-thirds of the surface of the Earth, but fresh water is a mere 0.002% on Earth. Don’t let the water run in the sink since our life’s on the brink!!!

Photo by freeaussiestock

 

 

 

5 fruits you should enjoy in winter

Pomegranate
Pomegranate seeds are high in polyphenols, plant chemicals that fight inflammation. Mix the seeds into oatmeal for more flavor and crunch.

Guava
Guava has a slightly spicy flavor, like cinnamon. Bonus: The yellow-to-bright-red beauty gives you as many antioxidants as broccoli does. Peel and eat the guava fresh, or puree the pulp and add citrus juice, onion and spices for a sauce to pour over grilled chicken.

Papaya
Cut through its thick skin to get the juicy insides: Papaya is a great source of skin-saving vitamin A and Papain, an enzyme that aids digestion. Use chopped ripe papaya to sweeten spicy tomato salsa. If it’s still green, shred and toss with sesame-soy dressing for an Asian slaw.

Orange
A naturally occurring hybrid of tangerine, grapefruit and orange, one Citrus fruit delivers nearly three quarters of a day’s dose of vitamin C. Section it as you would an orange. Use the juice in glazes and sauces, or cut up big chunks to add to fruit salad.

Prickly pear
It sounds sharp, but the prickly pear is actually mild and tasty. One cup has nearly 10 percent of your daily calcium requirements. Most of the rind’s needles are removed by the time the fruit reaches your market. Peel and section, discard seeds and add to cereal.

 

Photograph by Beamillion

Weather forecast in major Indian airports on December 28, 2012

The weather in Delhi airport will further improve during the next 24 hours. Fog in Indian airports in the eastern parts of the country reduced considerably and will remain so during the next 24 hours. Here is a forecast update for the weather in Indian airports during the next 24 hours

 

Fog in Indian airports

Sri Guru Ram Dass jee International airport,  Amritsar: Dense foggy conditions have reduced leading to better flight operations from the airport. Shallow fog is expected over Amritsar but flights arrival and departure would be on time.

Indira Gandhi International airport, New Delhi: Shallow fog in Delhi airport is expected. The visibility would be around 200 to 1000m. Flight operations would remain on time. The city will experience southeasterly winds during the next 24 hours.

Weather in other Indian airports

Chaudhary Charan Singh International airport, Lucknow: Fog will stay away from Lucknow airport during the next 24 hours, as westerly winds would blow during the early morning hours. The day will see southeasterly winds but with rising days temperatures humidity is not enough to form fog.

Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan airport, Patna: Northerly to northwesterly winds are prevailing here so there is no fog in Patna. Flight operations will be smooth under a clear sky.

Netaji Subash Chandra Bose airport, Kolkata: Northerly winds over Kolkata will keep fog away. Flight take off and landing at The Netajee Subash Chandra Bose International airport will be on time under an open sky.

Lal Bahadur Shashtri Airport, Varanasi: Shallow fog is expected at Varanasi airport but it will not affect flight arrivals and departures.

Bangaluru International airport, Bangalore: Northeasterly to easterly winds and rising night temperatures have ruled out any fog over Bangalore airport during the next 24 hours.

 

Photograph by Cliff1066

Night temperatures to rise in northwest; rain continues over south

Night temperatures or minimum temperatures are expected to rise by 2 to 3 degrees during the next 72 hours over northwest India. Jammu & Kashmir will receive snowfall during this period. Cold wave conditions would continue over Indo-Gangetic plains. Rain would also continue along the southern coast during the next 48 hours.

Cloudy to partly cloudy sky would be witnessed over northwest India and rain & snowfall would occur in the hills of the region. Plains of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and west Uttar Pradesh could also receive rain or thunder shower at a couple of places during the next two days.

The Western Disturbance is about to arrive over Jammu & Kashmir to bring brief change in weather as it would impact the region for next 72 hours. Jammu & Kashmir will receive snow/rain at a few places during the next 24 hours. The hills of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand would also get snowfall or rain thereafter.

Nights in northwest India would be relatively warmer while days would be cooler as sunshine would be less to keep the maximum temperatures below normal between 5 to 10 degrees. So, cold-wave like conditions would remain intact over entire northwest and Indo-Gangetic plains during the next couple of days.

Fog will reduce further over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and west Uttar Pradesh during the next 24 hours but it will continue over east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gangetic West Bengal in the next two days. Visibility in the eastern parts of country would be just above 200m.

The cold wave over Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh in central India will continue as they are experiencing northerly winds. The minimum temperatures would drop further while the maximum temperatures are expected to remain stable.

In the south, coastal Tamil Nadu will receive rain at a few places during the next two days under the influence of an easterly wave from the Bay of Bengal. Interior Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep would also receive rain at one or two places during the next 24 hours. Rain would pick up in these areas thereafter.

 

Photograph by goldengirl

Weather in India in March for last 10 years

Sun keeps shifting towards the Northern Hemisphere during the month of March. Thus, Indian plains open up more to direct sunshine and extended heating time. The temperatures start rising to create more low pressure areas that attract heavier winds from the north. Due to increased pressure gradient the winds speed also increases and relatively faster winds were experienced during March in India. Here’s an observation to find out the coldest and hottest March in the last 10 years over the major cities of India.

Weather in Delhi in March for last 10 years
The average highest maximum temperature of 34 degrees was recorded during the month of March in 2004 while the average lowest minimum temperature was 14 degrees recorded in 2007. It means that March 2004 was the hottest month in last 10 year while the coldest March in the last 10 years was experienced in 2007. During these last 10 years, the weather in Delhi in March remained dry.

Weather in Kolkata in March for last 10 years
The average highest maximum temperature of 35 degrees was recorded in the March of 2010 while the average lowest minimum temperature was 21 degrees in 2003. It means that March 2003 was coldest in the last 10 years while it was hottest in 2010.  The year 2002 was the only year in which rain was witnessed. No rain has been reported in Kolkata in last 10 years, during March

Weather in Mumbai in March for last 10 years
In last 10 years, March 2003 was coldest in Mumbai when the average lowest minimum temperature was 22 degrees while the hottest March was witnessed in 2004 when the average maximum temperature recorded was 35 degrees. Rain has been elusive from the city in the last 10 years, which is quite normal during the month of March.

Weather in Chennai in March for last 10 years
The average minimum temperature of 23 degrees was recorded in 2008 and 2011 in Chennai which is the lowest in the last 10 years while the average maximum temperature was recorded during the year 2009 and 2010 at 34 degrees. So, March 2008 and 2011 were coldest in March in the last 10 years. No unusual rain occurred over Chennai during March in the last 10 years.

Weather in Hyderabad in March for last 10 years
The average minimum temperature was lowest in 2011 at 20 degrees for the month of March while the average maximum temperature was highest in 2004 and 2010 at 36 degrees. This means March of 2011 was coldest in last 10 years while March 2004 and 2011 were hottest in this period.

Weather in January in India

The month of January in India is the most preferred and most liked month by all. This is the coolest month of the entire year across cities. The weather of Delhi in January as well as in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad is the coolest of all the other months in the year. This is because the month of January experiences winter season across the entire country. Let’s understand the general weather for major cities in India in the month of January with a forecast for January 2013:

Delhi - People living in the Capital city experience extreme cold temperatures as the weather in Delhi in January sees mercury below 10⁰C. Many a times, cold day conditions prevail with dense fog hours. Light rain at times as a result of the Western Disturbance make the days even colder with no sunshine. This might not sound so appealing to the people living in other parts of the country but surprisingly, it is this January weather in Delhi that makes Delhiites wait for it the entire year and attracts hundreds of foreign tourists too who prefer to travel to Delhi during the cold winter months as opposed to the frightful summers. There’s good news for people planning to spend New Year’s in Delhi. The January 2013 weather in Delhi will see below normal temperatures and very cold days. This will be a great treat after the much warmer December month.

Mumbai - January is the coolest month of the year. And the weather in Mumbai is generally mild and pleasant with daytime highs of around 27°C and nighttime lows of around 17°. Though cold northern winds during the day make the city seem cooler than it really is. Clear skies with smog especially, in the early morning hours are a norm in Mumbai. January is also associated with the deciduous trees in the city shedding their leaves. 26–27 January 2008 recorded a minimum temperature of 10.2 °C, which is the lowest recorded in 45 years. Mumbai's record breaking winter 2012 had the minimum temperature 8.2°C. The weather in January 2013 in Mumbai is expected to be marginally warmer this year as temperatures may rise with light rain at places.

Chennai - January offers a cheerful ambiance and it is the coldest month of the year. It is a good period to explore the attractions of the city and its outskirts. Outdoor trips and beach activities can be best enjoyed during this month. Weather in Chennai in January does not go below 20⁰C and light rain is accompanied by light winds. As northeast monsoon rains come to an end by December, January stays cool and dry with only slight possibility of few drops. Sea waves too remain low. Skymet weather forecasters predict normal weather for Chennai in January 2013

Kolkata -The weather in Kolkata in January stays pleasant as people wear light woolens, but fog hours and a number of flight delays disrupt the lives of people, many a times. This fog in Kolkata in the winter months particularly last week of December and first  few weeks of January forms due to the high pollution levels and the moisture feed from the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal that gets trapped in the atmosphere. Things have been different though for the last few years probably due to global warming. Earlier this week, we forecasted a warmer Christmas weather for Kolkata and the same pattern of higher temperatures (by 1 to 2 degrees) should continue in January 2013 too.

Hyderabad - Hyderabad is fairly warm all through the year except for the winter season which is pleasant. Weather in January in Hyderabad remains pleasant with temperatures running between 32°C to 14°C. It is suitable for sightseeing and outdoor activities in Hyderabad. Nights are comparatively cooler in winter than daytime and days will have clear blue sky and light winds. No wonder ‘Chaar Minar’ is the hot spot for people of city and tourists during January. But the year 2013 will start off as a warmer year for Hyderabad as the weather gods don’t seem to be pleased for some reason and the comparatively colder month of January will witness temperatures higher than normal.

Jatin Singh, CEO of Skymet Weather Services throws light on the topic that has concerned most of us in the last decade. He says, “Temperatures will keep rising as colder months turn into warmer months, and we will keep facing the harmful effects of global warming if we as a nation do not take weather seriously and be weather wise”.

Photo by Ahron de Leeuw.

 

Weather forecast in major Indian airports on December 26, 2012

The weather at Delhi airport is set to improve during the next 24 hours. Fog at Indian airports in the eastern parts of the country has reduced and would have a lesser affect on flight operations. Here is a forecast update for the weather in Indian airports during the next 24 hours

Dense to moderate fog in Indian airports

  • Sri Guru Ram Dass jee International airport, Amritsar

Amritsar airport is still under dense foggy conditions as moist southeasterly winds blowing at a speed of around 1 to 3 kmph are mixing up with the much slower dry and cool northerly winds. The minimum temperature is also low facilitating fog formation

  • Indira Gandhi International airport New Delhi

Moderate to dense fog in Delhi airport would keep the visibility low but that will not disrupt flight operations other than the early morning hours when fog will be dense as the humidity level is around mid-nineties.

Fog/no fog at other Indian airports

  • Chaudhary Charan Singh International airport, Lucknow

The airport of Lucknow would be fog free as westerly to northwesterly winds are keeping a check on moisture feed from easterly winds. Flight operations would be smoother during the next 24 hours.

  • Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan airport, Patna

Same conditions would keep the fog under control at the airport in Patna. Visibility is good enough and flight operations are expected to be better than the last few days.

  • Netaji Subash Chandra Bose airport, Kolkata

The Netajee Subash Chandra Bose International airport would not be affected by fog and flights would be on time.

  • Lal Bahadur Shashtri Airport, Varanasi

Winds have changed and the minimum temperature has also risen now, so fog will not be affective enough to disrupt flight departures and arrivals during the next 24 hours.

Fast moving northeasterly to easterly winds and increase in minimum temperatures are disallowing fog formation, so visibility is clear at the airport for the next 24 hours.

Photograph by Ashok666

Fog reduction to continue over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi & west UP; rain intensity to increase in south

Fog will continue to reduce over northwestern plains of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and west Uttar Pradesh during the next 24 hours. Moderate to dense fog can still be witnessed in pockets at these areas. Snowfall and rain would start over Jammu & Kashmir during the next 24 hours. Rain intensity is likely to increase over extreme southern parts of the country.

The approaching Western Disturbance is expected to raise the minimum temperatures over northwestern plains by cutting of the northwesterly winds during the next 24 hours. Drop in the humidity level as well as rising minimum temperature way above dew point would not let fog get denser. These areas would have moderate fog during this period.

The Western Disturbance is currently positioned over north Pakistan, near Jammu & Kashmir. It is moving east-northeastwards and would make an appearance by tomorrow in the region. Under its influence, rain or snowfall would commence over higher ridges of Jammu & Kashmir.

Snowfall or rainfall would increase after the next 24 hours and can spread to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Jammu and Kashmir will have snowfall or rain at one or two places. Few places in Jammu & Kashmir will receive heavy snowfall during the next 24 hours. In the plains, Punjab and Haryana could receive rain or thunder showers at one or two places during the next 24 to 48 hours.

Fall in the night temperatures by 2 to 3 degrees is expected over Indo-Gangetic plains as northwesterly to northerly cooler winds would have an affect during the next 48 hours. So, Indo Gangectic plains would see dense fog and severe cold wave like conditions during the next two days as cool winds are mixing up with moist easterly winds.

In the southwest Bay of Bengal, an easterly wave would bring rainfall at a few places in coastal Tamil Nadu. Interior Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep would receive rain at one or two places during the next 24 hours. More places will witness rain in these places thereafter.

 

Photograph by mattjkelley

Weather in Chennai during monsoons

As Chennai lies on the coast and is closer to the thermal equator, moderate temperatures throughout the year are thoroughly enjoyed by all. Though, the weather in Chennai becomes hot and sweaty in the summers months of May and April as the mercury soars to more than 40°C.  While heavy rains in the monsoon season and the cyclone season (Bay of Bengal) lash the city, the Chennai weather in India becomes pleasantly cool during the winter months from December to Feb at 18 to 20°C, attracting many for a beachy vacation.

Rains in India are received from two monsoon seasons, i.e. the Southwest monsoons and the Northeast monsoons. But there is something peculiar about the weather in Chennai during the wet or not so wet monsoon months. This is, when the entire country receives rain from the southwest monsoon, the weather in Tamil Nadu (Chennai) remains the driest. It’s because Chennai lies in the rain shadow area, therefore the moisture feed during the southwest monsoons gets cut off by the Nilgiri hills. The only hope for Chennai then lies in the northeast monsoons. Skymet’s records show the highest yearly rainfall in the city has been recorded to be 2,570 mm in 2005.

But this is not the case every year. Major changes taking place in the global weather pattern have led to a massive decrease in the rain intensity and a dangerous increase in temperatures in India. The frightful Cyclone Nilam that hit south Peninsula in the last week of October destroyed life and property indeed, but luckily covered up for a feeble northeast monsoon this year. In spite of the heavy rains the cyclone brought, parts of south Peninsula still faced a rain deficit of about 56% (21% in south interior Karnataka, 35% in Kerala).

And although Chennai turned out to be luckier this year, the serious rain deficit had the cyclone not hit, concerned authorities, agriculturists and scientists. Skymet’s swift forecast of the weak rain in the south this year and the onset of the cyclone in the Bay of Bengal though alerted many farmers and their crops but weather forecasters say “this does not solve the problem permanently”, pointing out at the need to ideate some newer weather models by weather forecasting authorities and institutes in India, that could help in raising the alarm for the weather ahead, faster and more accurately. “Accurate forecasts will not just alarm the poor farmer about the monsoon condition and save his crop, but will also help the authorities to be prepared for the perennial flood situation during the cyclones or any inimical weather in Chennai and adjoining areas”, adds Mahesh Palawat, Head of the Forecasting team at Skymet Weather Services.

Photo by Emmanuel Dyan.

5 ways to take care of your skin in winter

Winter is high time to protect your skin as the dry conditions took a toll on your skin. Before drop in temperatures and sunny sky conditions takes away moisture from your skin and make them rough, follow these tips to protect it from harsh winter

  • Use moisturizer in the winter: Daily intense moisturizing massages will help keep your skin supple and glowing during these winter months. Also use a face pack on a weekly basis to rejuvenate your skin.
  • Prepare your skin for the winter: Start your day by prepping your skin. Exfoliate the skin but not more than once a week. Exfoliation will take care of the flaky, dry skin but you have to make sure to do it  gently and overdo is avoidable.
  • Use a gentle scrub with tiny grains: Prefer a man-made scrubber as the natural one usually has uneven edged granules that may create tiny tears in the skin.
  • Follow up exfoliation with a deep moisturizing emollient in winters: Vitamin C moisturizer work really well. Let the moisturizer sit for at least 5 minutes so your skin can soak it in. Makeup applied on moisturized skin will last longer. If makeup is applied before the moisturizer, it will dilute the effect of the moisturizer.
  • Diet for winter skin care: Eating and exercising right for your skin this winter. Include lots of juices, fruits & dry fruits in your diet and drink at least 8 glasses of water. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy, get enough rest, stay positive, use the right makeup products and don't skip the cleansing-toning-moisturizing ritual before going to bed.

 

Fog likely to continue over north, east India; rain expected over Tamil Nadu, Kerala

Foggy conditions are expected to continue in the next 48 hours over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, entire Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Rain is expected to increase over extreme southern coastal parts of the country after the next 24 hours. Snowfall is expected over Jammu & Kashmir during the next 48 hours.

The weather conditions favourable for dense to very dense fog would remain intact to keep the fog cover over Indo-Gangetic and northwest plains during the next couple of days. Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, entire Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal would witness very dense fog at some places. The heavy cold moist winds would keep the visibility level very low, affecting transport adversely. Things would be worse during early morning hours

Visibility in Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata would remain very poor and could even dip below 50m during late light till early morning. Especially Lucknow and Patna would be under very dense cover during this period as humidity levels would be almost 100% with a winds speed of around 3kmph.

An eastward moving Western Disturbance over Afghanistan and north Pakistan could bring some respite from the cold wave from December 26 onwards over these parts. Minimum temperatures may rise by 2 to 3 degrees after the next two days. But till then, cold waves along with fog could increase the discomfort for the people.

This weather system would again start a brief period of snowfall and rain over Jammu & Kashmir after the next 36 hours. One or two places could receive snowfall during this period. Snowfall and rain can spread to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand after the next 48 hours.

The southern part of the country is expected to experience easterly waves by December 26 onwards. These waves are in far southeastern Bay of Bengal and would reach over south coastal Tamil Nadu and south Kerala. These regions would continue to receive rain at one or two places during the next 24 hours.

 

Photograph by Anurag Agnihotri







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