Patna: Bihar continues to reel under biting cold as temperatures are set to drop further over the next few days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday. The weather office has issued an orange alert for fog and cold day conditions in 23 districts, warning that morning and evening cold will intensify across the state.
According to the IMD, minimum temperatures in Bihar are likely to fall by up to 4 degrees Celsius over the next four days, worsening the chill and cold wave conditions. While Patna is expected to see some sunshine during the day on Wednesday, dense fog is likely to set in from January 8. A cold wave may persist in many parts of the state till January 14.
In the last 24 hours, dense fog was reported in at least 10 districts, including Patna, Begusarai and Darbhanga, during the early morning hours. Visibility dropped to near zero at several locations, disrupting normal movement. Minimum temperatures of 7 degrees Celsius or below were recorded in these districts.
Bhagalpur’s Sabour emerged as the coldest place in the state, where the minimum temperature dipped to 4.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
No relief from cold likely in next four days
The Meteorological Centre has ruled out any immediate relief from the cold. Officials said nighttime temperatures are expected to fall further, making conditions particularly harsh after sunset and during early mornings. Dense fog during these hours may also lead to poor visibility on roads and highways.
Scenes from across Bihar reflected the severity of the cold, with schoolchildren cycling through freezing conditions in Supaul, thick fog enveloping residential areas in Madhubani, and sparse traffic visible on fog-covered roads in Bettiah.
Western disturbance behind cold wave
Weather scientists attributed the prevailing cold conditions to an active western disturbance passing over northern India. Heavy snowfall in the Himalayan region has triggered cold north-westerly winds, which are moving from Pakistan through Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan before reaching Bihar. These cold winds are causing dense fog and cold day conditions in several parts of the state.
Patna weather forecast for today
Patna is expected to remain cold throughout the day. Light to moderate fog may persist during the morning hours, affecting visibility. Sunshine during the daytime may offer limited relief, but temperatures are likely to stay below normal. A further drop in the minimum temperature is expected at night, intensifying the cold.
