Patna: Bihar is witnessing a sharp drop in temperatures as winter conditions intensify across the state. Dense fog on Thursday morning covered more than 10 districts, including Patna, Begusarai, Kishanganj, Bettiah, Bagaha, and Gopalganj, reducing visibility and disrupting early travel.
Weather officials said the chill is more pronounced during mornings and evenings. In the last 24 hours, eight districts recorded minimum temperatures around 11 degrees Celsius. Bhagalpur remained the coldest, with Sabour station dipping to 8.4 degrees Celsius.
According to the Regional Meteorological Center, the cold is expected to deepen in the coming days as minimum temperatures continue to fall steadily. Foggy conditions are likely to persist in several districts of North Bihar for the next two days.
While a severe cold wave has not yet set in, the department expects a significant season shift starting the third week of December. Minimum temperatures may fall by 1–3 degrees in the first week, dropping below 9 degrees Celsius in many parts during the second week. By the third week, the mercury could slip to 7 degrees Celsius or lower, leading to a cold wave in the final week of December.
Meteorologists attribute the changing conditions to the increasing influence of westerly winds, causing temperature fluctuations at night. They predict a more intense chill after December 20.
In Patna, the cold has become increasingly noticeable, with foggy mornings and a gradual decline in minimum temperatures. The mercury in the capital is expected to fall below 10 degrees Celsius soon.
Meanwhile, Bhagalpur continues to experience the harshest winter conditions so far. Aurangabad also reported severe cold, recording a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
Residents across the state have begun preparing for harsher conditions as Bihar heads into peak winter in the coming weeks.
