“Where’s The Winter?” Experts Explain India’s November Heatwave

NewDelhi: New Delhi has arrived in November, but the winter has not arrived even yet. Daytime and nighttime temperatures, uncommonly high for this time of year, are still lingering unseasonal warmth across much of India. But these prolonged summer-like conditions were a surprise to many, with so many wondering what’s causing this turn of weather.

Last week, Dr. Soma Sen Roy, a senior meteorologist, explained what has caused this unusual weather pattern. In several regions, current temperatures are running 3–5°C above normal, most particularly across north-eastern and central India, hence why November’s temperatures continue to be unusually warm, Dr. Sen Roy said.

There are several reasons for this delayed onset of winter, the foremost of which, according to Dr. Sen Roy, is that over the 10 to 15 days, there have been ‘almost no western disturbances’ over the region. “Northern India gets usual clouds and rain from western disturbances,” she said. ‘This precipitation causes temperatures to rise slightly and then fall after that, which helps keep winter temperatures cooler.’ Without this activity, temperatures have remained high enough that the normal seasonal dip has been held up.”

At places like Punjab and Haryana, minimum temperatures are 6 to 7 degrees above normal. Delhi and its neighboring areas are having temperatures 4 to 5 degrees above normal for November. Other places including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh are also warmer than seasonal norm by 2 to 4°C degrees. That sustained warmth may not change much in the coming days.

But there’s some relief ahead, too. Dr. A western disturbance is likely to Arrive on 14 November, he added bringing Slight changes to the current weather. Though rain is predicted in Jammu and Kashmir, it should not make much difference in most other areas. Dense fog was already reported in parts of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, with visibility lower than 50 metres in a few places. Forecasts indicate that this foggy weather is due to continue for 2 – 3 days.

A light drizzle and even snow is predicted by this incoming western disturbance to the hill stations and this may lower the temperature by 1-2°C in the plains. And this may give a temporary rest, both in the form of cooler morning and evening temperatures with signs that the cooler season is on the way.

So is North India’s Winter Next?
Dr. Sen Roy’s update brings some hope to those who are waiting for Delhi and surrounding areas to get their first real taste of winter. This unseasonal heat may stick around a bit longer, but the expected rain and snow in the northern hills could be a foreshadowing of the early appearance of winter’s long awaited presence in the plains.

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