Severe cold conditions in Bihar to continue till Jan 20

ATNA: Severe cold conditions in Bihar are unlikely to abate over the next 4- 5 days as India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued fresh warning for cold wave and cold day along with dense foggy weather at many places in the state till January 20.
Incidentally, cold wave conditions would add to the discomfort to residents as Bihar has been mostly facing cold- day and foggy conditions under the ongoing prolonged spell of acute chill. In meteorological parlance, cold wave conditions are declared at a place when the normal minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or above but the actual temperature is recorded at seven degrees Celsius or even lower.

The worsening of the acute cold conditions have been attributed to a western disturbance situated over north Afghanistan on Tuesday, which was expected to start affecting western Himalayas from Wednesday.

An all- India weather bulletin issued by IMD on Tuesday evening stated: "A western disturbance currently located over northeast Afghanistan was likely to approach northwest India during next 24 hours. Associated changes in wind pattern might cause a rise in the night minimum temperatures by 2- 3 degrees C over the plains of northwest India on Wednesday. However, this could be short lived and the likely setting in of north- westerly winds may lead to further fall in minimum temperatures from the night of January 18. Dense fog, cold wave and ground frost are likely over parts of northwest India during next three days and dense fog and cold day over eastern plains during next five days."

It is in fact the cold north- westerly winds coming from the snow- laden western Himalayan region, which has led to biting cold conditions in places like Bihar and eastern UP from nearly 20 days now. Minimum readings are being recorded below 10 degrees C at most places in the state from around December 25 as the north- westerly winds continue to blow at an average speed of 8-12kmph, leading to much discomfort to residents. It was around the same time that dense fog cover enveloped almost entire Bihar and eastern UP districts. The dense foggy conditions have continued almost unabated since then.

It is only from Monday that fog cover is getting cleared by around 12-1pm in the afternoon, making way for the solar rays to warm up the lower level of atmosphere and in turn, providing some respite to residents.

Sunny afternoons notwithstanding, minimum temperature at Patna on Monday plunged to 7.7 degrees C, a drop of 2 notches from 9.3 degrees C recorded on Monday. Bhagalpur in north Bihar on the other hand, shivered at 5.9 degrees C this morning.

Day temperature too witnessed drop at most places in the state over the past 24 hours. Patna 's maximum temperature plunged from 18.8 degrees C recorded on Monday to 17 degrees C on Tuesday. Bhagalpur's maximum temperature also plunged from 18 degrees C on Monday to 13.8 degrees C on Tuesday. Bhagalpur witnessed severe cold- day, whereas Patna witnessed cold- day conditions on Tuesday.

In meteorological parlance, cold day condition is declared when the minimum temperature touches 10 degrees C or low and there is a departure of 4.5-6.4 degrees C in maximum temperature.