There is more to winter than celebrating Christmas. It’s about hats, gloves, scarves and uber cool sunglasses. It’s the season when the eager wait for cold weather comes to an end. When people look forward to skiing and ice skating, curling up by a fire and temperatures to drop to enjoy the never melting ice-cream. And India boasts of a vivid landscape where one region turns white as the snow begins to sprinkle down and the other is filled with heavy downpour every other day.
Winter season in India, especially in North India, marks the reigning period of mild sun and harsh cold weather. But which month marks the setting in of winter season in India? When does winter begin in India?
Many think it’s the month of October when the cold winds begin to travel in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana that marks the beginning of winter season in North India. To them, November too follows the suit. However, October is not a winter month. It just witnesses the transition of Southwest Monsoon into Northeast Monsoon and a high variation in temperature. November also brings in the pleasant weather across Central India including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where discomfort of the summer season gradually fades away and pleasant nights usher in.
Winter in North India
Winter in parts of North India including the hills and plains occur due to the frequent visit of Western Disturbances. The weather system renders snowflakes and heavy snow in higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand while it leads to winter rain in lower reaches of these hilly areas along with plains of North India. By mid-November, minimum temperatures begin to drop gradually and settle below 15°C when mornings and nights turn chilly. Winter is also characterized by fog in several areas of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR.
Winter in Central India
Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra are parts of India that do not observe thick of winters but mild and soothing weather during the winter months of November-February. The second summer post Monsoon season takes a back seat by mid-November and welcomes the pleasant weather with open arms.
Winter in Peninsular India
The so-called winter months are known as the Northeast Monsoon in Peninsular India where Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka witness moderate to torrential rain during this time. Excessive cloud cover and heavy rain do give respite from the scorching summer, however, temperature remain in double digits. Though, on several occasions, Bangalore witnesses temperature reaching upto 15°C to 17⁰C and Ooty: 4°C to 5⁰C that makes southern hill stations ideal for sightseeing and leisurely visit during this time.
Winter in Northeast India
This part of the country never fails to savour the taste of winter. As the Western Disturbance travels up to Arunachal Pradesh and other Sub-Himalayan West Bengal area, temperature seldom takes a dip giving the wintery feel to residents. Induced weather system also becomes instrumental in enabling people from across India and International shores enjoy the Northeast delight in Nagaland during the Hornbill festival or discover the beauty of Assam.
So, is winter a phenomenon of North India alone? Which are the winter months?
It depends on the area you stay in. If you are residing in any part of North India, winter starts around mid-November with December and January being the coldest months. While December is the time when frigid winter tightens its grip, November is when the cold begins to set in. If cities like Bangalore, Chennai or Mysore characterize you then the only winter you are going to feel is the incessant rain that seems to happen every other day.
Image Credit: manikarthik.com
