While rain and snow have accommodated the onset of winter over the hilly states of North India, eastern parts of the country are yet to experience the 'winter chill'. Minimums at several places across Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and East UP are settling around 4 to 7°C above normal.
This delay in onset of winter over East India can be attributed to consecutive Western Disturbances (WDs) over northern parts of the country. These systems are a hindrance to the free flow of cool and dry winds all the way to East India.
Temperatures in the eastern states of East UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal take a fall only when the cold northerly winds from the hills of North India reach the region. However, presently, two back to back WDs are restricting the complete flow of these winds to East India. As a result, temperatures at various places in the eastern parts of the country are currently recording above normal.
Patna city is recording minimums 7°C above normal; Gaya 4°C above normal; Kolkata 4°C; Bankura 4°C above normal; and Ranchi 2°C above normal.
These conditions are likely to continue for the next few days. Thus, genuinely cold mornings cannot be expected across East India right away. People in this part of the country will have to wait for some more time before the annual winter chill arrives. The possibility of a marginal rise in temperatures cannot be ruled out either.
Meanwhile, mainly moderate fog prevails across the Indo-Gangetic plains. At some places, dense fog has also been reported.
(Featured Image Credit: indianpublicmedia.org)
