Patna: The weather in Bihar is undergoing a seasonal shift just as the state celebrates Chhath Puja, the grand festival of faith and devotion. Morning fog and a mild chill have begun to set in across several districts, including Patna, offering a glimpse of the approaching winter.
According to the Patna Meteorological Centre, light rain and cloudy skies are likely in the days following October 28, as a result of changing weather systems over eastern India. Fog will continue to blanket Patna and nearby areas for the next 24 hours, with slightly cooler mornings and evenings.
Daytime conditions, however, are expected to remain comfortable, with brief sunshine between cloud cover. Meteorologists predict that clouds may hover over the skies during evening and morning Arghya offerings to the Sun God (Lord Bhaskar) during Chhath Puja.
Meanwhile, the threat of Cyclone Montha forming in the Bay of Bengal has intensified. A low-pressure area developed over the southeastern bay on Friday, which is likely to strengthen into a cyclonic storm by October 27. The system is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Odisha and West Bengal over the next three days, starting Monday.
Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Department, said the system is moving in a west-northwest direction and, due to its proximity to Bengal, its peripheral effects may extend to Bihar and Jharkhand.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also warned that a western disturbance will affect the western Himalayan region on October 27, which could influence Bihar’s weather in the following days. A fall of two to four degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures is expected after the Chhath festivities conclude.
In temperature readings across the state, Patna recorded a maximum of 33.5°C and a minimum of 24.1°C, while Gaya registered 32.6°C and 21.6°C respectively. Bhagalpur reported 33.1°C (max) and 23.4°C (min), and Muzaffarpur saw 31.0°C (max) and 23.6°C (min).
The hottest regions on Friday were Araria and Forbesganj, both recording 35.2°C. Morning fog and evening chill continued to mark much of northern Bihar, though residents experienced harsh midday sunlight across several plains districts.
Authorities have urged citizens and devotees to remain vigilant and prepared amid the developing cyclone and shifting weather patterns, even as lakhs gather at ghats across the state for Chhath Puja.
