PATNA: Sub-10 chill continued to prevail at most places in the state for the third consecutive day on Tuesday with
Gaya
recording the lowest minimum
temperature
at 5.2 degrees C. The minimum temperature in
Patna
stood at 7.6 degrees C.
An official at Patna Meteorological Centre said average minimum temperature in the state was in the range of 8-9 degrees C and maximum in the range of 22-23 degrees C on Tuesday.
As the icy north-westerly winds continue to blow in the region, Patna Meteorological Centre has issued forecast for cold wave at a few places in south Bihar and cold day at a few places in northern parts of the state on Wednesday.
“Cold wave conditions are expected at one or two places in Buxar, Bhabhua, Aurangabad, Nawada and Gaya districts over the next 24 hours. Also, cold day conditions are expected at one or two places in Purnia, Kishanganj, Darbhanga and
Madhubani
districts,” said
Zeeshan Ansari, an official at Patna Meteorological Centre.
As per India Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave condition is declared at a place when the actual minimum temperature is 10 degrees C or lower along with departure of 4.5 to 6.4 degrees C from normal. Cold day condition, on the other hand, is declared when minimum temperature touches 10 degrees C or low and there is a departure of 4.5-6.4 degrees C in maximum temperature on two consecutive days.
Though the weathermen have forecast cold wave and cold day conditions at a few places on Wednesday, the IMD has predicted abatement of such cold weather conditions from Thursday.
The IMD, in its all India weather bulletin issued on Tuesday, said cold wave and cold day conditions are very likely at isolated pockets in Bihar over the next 24 hours and abatement thereafter.
It further stated that no significant change is expected in minimum temperature in east India during the next two days and it would rise by 2-3 notches thereafter.
The weathermen attributed the slight respite from extreme cold conditions to two back-to-back western disturbances. The IMD stated in its bulletin that the two western disturbances – first on December 24 and another on December 26 – are very likely to influence weather conditions in northwest India and abatement of cold wave conditions over most parts of northwest and central India.
The western disturbances around this time of the year bring rainfall or snowfall in the Himalayan region and cloudy conditions, followed by sharp temperature drop in northern plains, including Bihar. The IMD has predicted light to moderate rainfall or snowfall in western Himalayan region, including Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, between December 24 and 29.