Cold Wave Conditions Over Uttar Pradesh-Bihar: No Relief Likely
Key Takeaways
- Cold wave conditions have intensified across Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
- Dense fog is preventing daytime temperatures from rising above 20°C.
- Cold air spillover from Himalayan foothills is driving the severe chill.
- Cold air spillover from Himalayan foothills is driving the severe chill.
Cold wave conditions across many pockets of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have tightened their grip. Thick and dense fog has restricted the rise in daytime temperatures at several places. Nocturnal breezes have added to the frigid cold, more so over East Uttar Pradesh and North Bihar. Conditions are unlikely to ease during this week and may instead intensify towards the weekend.
Multiple factors are responsible for the intense cold over East Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Extreme cold conditions over the mountainous terrain of Nepal and the foothills of the Indo-Gangetic plains adjoining these two states are spilling over due to a favourable wind pattern. The displaced anticyclone over central India is positioned too far to block the inflow of chilly winds. Instead, it has contributed to stronger winds along the Nepal foothills in the lower levels of the atmosphere.
Widespread dense fog has further restricted daytime heating. None of the stations across these two states has recorded a maximum temperature of 20°C or above. Meanwhile, Etawah in Uttar Pradesh emerged as the coldest place in the country, recording minimum temperatures of 2.6°C and 2.4°C today and yesterday, respectively.
Border areas of Uttar Pradesh adjoining Bihar, including Azamgarh, Ballia, Gorakhpur, and Varanasi, along with Kanpur, Fursatganj, Prayagraj, and Hardoi, continue to struggle with minimum temperatures hovering around 5°C or lower. In Bihar, Bhagalpur, Nalanda, and Gaya have also reported similar temperature ranges.
There is no active western disturbance approaching the northern hills to break this prolonged cold spell. Bone-chilling cold is expected to persist throughout the week. Dense fog will continue to suppress daytime temperatures, while nights and early morning hours will remain extremely cold. Both cold wave and cold day conditions are likely to affect parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh during this period.
