Patna: Bihar is yet to get full relief from the ongoing cold conditions. While sunshine during the day is providing some comfort, evenings and early mornings remain bitterly cold across the state. Dense fog covered parts of Vaishali and Begusarai on Saturday morning, reducing visibility to around 50 metres and disrupting normal movement.
The Meteorological Centre has not issued any alert for any district on Saturday, but officials have संकेत that another spell of severe cold may return in the coming days. A fresh western disturbance is likely to become active after January 22, which could lead to a sharp fall in temperatures and the return of cold north-westerly winds across Bihar.
Minimum Temperature Below 8°C in 10 Districts
Cold conditions continue to persist in many parts of the state. At present, 10 districts are recording minimum temperatures below 8 degrees Celsius. In the last 24 hours, Sabour in Bhagalpur district remained the coldest place in Bihar, with the mercury hovering around 5 degrees Celsius.
Fog and Cold Mornings Across Regions
On Friday, Bagaha witnessed extremely dense fog with visibility dropping to nearly 25 metres. Similar foggy conditions were seen in Bettiah during the early morning hours. In Samastipur, sunlight in the morning brought temporary relief from the cold, but the chill returned after sunset.
Why Days Are Warmer, Nights Colder
According to weather scientists, the western disturbance over North India is currently weak and the impact of cold westerly winds is limited. This is why daytime temperatures are not falling sharply and sunshine is visible. However, clear skies at night allow the Earth’s heat to escape rapidly, leading to a drop of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius in minimum temperatures. As a result, cold conditions continue to dominate during night and early morning hours.
Temperature Likely to Fall After January 23
Experts say a new western disturbance may become active around January 22–23. Its impact could push cold north-western winds toward Bihar, causing a further dip in minimum temperatures. This may intensify the cold once again across the state. Although no official warning has been issued yet, people have been advised to stay alert to changing weather conditions.
21 Districts Below 10°C at Night
Minimum temperatures have fallen below 10 degrees Celsius in 21 districts. The lowest was recorded at Sabour (Bhagalpur) with 5.9°C. Other notable readings include Valmikinagar at 9.0°C, Jiradei in Siwan at 6.2°C, Vaishali at 7.2°C, Samastipur at 6.7°C and Darbhanga at 8.7°C.
Patna Weather to Remain Normal
In the capital, the weather is expected to remain similar over the next few days. Sunshine during the day will keep the cold moderate, while nights will continue to be chilly. The minimum temperature in Patna is likely to stay around 10 degrees Celsius.
Air Pollution Rises in Danapur and Gandhi Maidan
As the sun comes out, dust particles on roads dry up and rise into the air, increasing pollution levels. In Danapur, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 214, while in the Gandhi Maidan area it stood at 210. According to Central Pollution Control Board standards, an AQI above 200 is considered ‘poor’ and harmful to health. PM2.5 and PM10 levels were recorded at nearly three times the safe limit.
Air pollution experts say light winds and vehicular movement lift fine dust particles into the atmosphere, increasing PM10 and PM2.5 concentration and worsening air quality.
