Patna: Bihar continues to reel under intense cold conditions due to icy north-westerly winds, with no immediate relief in sight. The minimum temperature has dropped to around 8 degrees Celsius in at least 10 districts of the state. The Meteorological Department has issued a cold day alert for eight districts, including Sitamarhi and Madhubani, while light rain is likely in several parts of the state after January 20.
The weather department has also sounded a yellow alert for light fog in eight districts on Tuesday, warning of reduced visibility during morning hours. Officials said cold-day-like conditions may prevail in northern Bihar, while dense fog is likely in northern and south-eastern regions. In contrast, Patna may witness bright sunshine through the day, which could lead to a slight rise in the maximum temperature.
According to the Meteorological Centre, a western disturbance is expected to approach the region on January 17, with its impact likely to be felt between January 20 and 21. Light drizzle may occur in areas adjoining north Bihar. However, strong north-westerly winds are expected to intensify the chill across the state.
Sunshine Brings Limited Relief, Chill Persists
Over the past 24 hours, dense fog engulfed several districts, including Muzaffarpur, during the early morning hours, with visibility dropping to near zero in some areas. Samastipur’s Pusa recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the state at 4.6 degrees Celsius.
In Patna and several other districts, dense fog cleared by late morning on Monday, giving way to bright sunshine throughout the day. While this provided some daytime relief from the cold, the biting chill returned in the evening due to strong winds.
Across the state, 24 districts reported minimum temperatures below 11 degrees Celsius. The sharp drop, with temperatures slipping into single digits in many areas, has intensified cold conditions. Besides Samastipur, Dehri in Rohtas and Muzaffarpur recorded minimum temperatures of 10 degrees, Sasaram and Rajgir (Nalanda) 10.2 degrees, Patna 10.7 degrees, and Arwal 10.9 degrees Celsius.
Weather Outlook
The Meteorological Department has forecast sunshine across Bihar over the next six days, which may gradually reduce fog intensity. A slight rise in daytime temperatures is expected, offering some relief during afternoon hours. However, cold conditions are likely to persist during nights and early mornings.
Rainfall is expected on January 20 and 21 due to the western disturbance, which may lead to a further drop of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius in temperatures. Cloudy skies are likely in Patna during this period. Weather conditions are expected to improve across Bihar from January 24 onwards, bringing gradual relief from the cold.
