Patna: The chill has tightened its grip on Bihar, driven by snowfall in the mountains of North India. However, the Patna Meteorological Centre has forecast some relief today, with Patna likely to experience cloudy weather that is expected to clear by the afternoon.
The state has been spared a fog alert, with the weather predicted to remain stable over the next two days. From January 18 onwards, a drop in minimum temperatures is anticipated, bringing a further increase in cold conditions.
Temperature Updates
Banka recorded the lowest temperature in the state over the past 24 hours, with the mercury dipping to 8.1°C on Thursday. Meanwhile, Siwan was the warmest district, registering a maximum temperature of 22.5°C.
School Closures Due to Cold
As cold weather persists, schools up to Class VIII have been closed in Gopalganj and Munger until January 18, following a similar decision in Patna earlier.
Expert Insights on Cold Conditions
Kumar Gaurav, a meteorologist at the Meteorological Centre, attributed the ongoing cold wave to a western disturbance causing snowfall in the mountainous regions of West India. He explained:
“December and January are traditionally cold months, and cold activity began intensifying in the last week of December. The icy winds from the western disturbance are causing temperatures to drop in Bihar. The plains have also experienced some rainfall due to this weather system.”
He further noted that Bihar has experienced a significant rainfall deficit this January, with 99% less precipitation than usual. Gaurav added:
“A western disturbance currently lies 17.1 km above North Pakistan and is moving towards South Haryana and Delhi. As a result, Bihar’s weather is expected to remain stable for the next two days.”
Fog Disrupts Train Schedules
Dense fog has disrupted train schedules in Bihar, with delays reported for two trains arriving at Patna Junction:
- New Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express (20802): Running an hour behind schedule, with an expected arrival at 12:35 pm.
- South Bihar Express (13287): Delayed by over 2 hours and 53 minutes, with its arrival now anticipated around 10 am instead of the scheduled 6:40 am.
While cold conditions continue, residents may see temporary relief from harsh weather over the next two days, with a more pronounced drop in temperatures expected later in the week.
