Patna: This year’s Chhath festival is expected to feel unusually warm as Bihar experiences unseasonably high temperatures in November. In a departure from the typical chill that accompanies early-morning “Aarghya” prayers at the ghats, forecasts suggest temperatures will remain well above average, with the state’s minimum and maximum temperatures set to be two to three degrees higher than usual for the season.
In October, Bihar recorded temperatures four to five degrees Celsius above the norm, with Patna’s minimum temperature peaking at an unprecedented 22.7°C on October 26 — the highest in five years. Last year, temperatures in early November had already dropped to around 18°C; however, this year, November began with a minimum temperature of 23.3°C in Patna. Meteorologists attribute the persistent warmth to the influence of north-westerly winds, which are keeping the skies clear and the air dry.
For the coming five to six days, the weather is expected to remain dry and clear, with no significant western disturbances to bring the cooler conditions normally felt by this time of year. The absence of these disturbances — typically responsible for snowfall in the mountains and rain in the plains — means that colder conditions are unlikely to set in soon.
A slight increase in rain is expected, with projections indicating between 12 and 14 mm, compared to the usual 5 to 10 mm for November. Some eastern and southern parts of Bihar may see sporadic rain showers, with cloud cover and potential fog across northern regions.
Gradually, a mild chill is anticipated to set in, particularly in the mornings and evenings, as the month progresses. However, until the arrival of stronger western disturbances, Bihar is set for a warmer Chhath season, with weather patterns diverging significantly from the norm.
