Patna: Large parts of Bihar continued to reel under dense fog on Wednesday morning, with weather officials warning of a sharp drop in temperatures and the possibility of cold wave conditions from December 22. As many as 12 districts, including Patna, Bettiah, Gopalganj and Sitamarhi, witnessed thick fog during the early hours, affecting visibility and daily movement.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature in the state has dropped to around 9 degrees Celsius, with Samastipur emerging as the coldest district in the last 24 hours at 9.5 degrees Celsius. Weather scientists said the impact of winter is expected to intensify after December 19, bringing harsher cold conditions across Bihar.
Dense fog was reported in Bettiah throughout the last 24 hours. In Banka district, poor visibility due to fog led to a head-on collision between two motorcycles, resulting in the death of one person, officials said.
IMD officials indicated that a western disturbance is likely to become active over the western Himalayan region on December 17. Its impact is expected to be felt over Bihar after December 20, when cold north-westerly winds may advance into the region. This is likely to cause a further dip in both maximum and minimum temperatures.
Meteorological data show that Bihar has been experiencing severe cold during the second or third week of December over the past three years, largely due to strengthened western winds. Snowfall in the Himalayan region coupled with active western disturbances typically intensifies winter conditions across eastern India, and a similar pattern appears to be developing this season as well.
In Patna, light to moderate cold conditions are currently being experienced during mornings and nights. While minimum temperatures may remain slightly below normal, daytime temperatures are expected to stay near normal levels due to sunshine. However, the cold is likely to intensify in the state capital as well after December 19, with increased chill during morning and evening hours.
The weather department has cautioned that cold wave-like conditions may prevail in Bihar after December 22. In some districts, daytime temperatures could fall significantly below normal, leading to ‘cold day’ conditions where relief from cold may remain limited even during the day.
