Temps drop in several parts of North India; IMD forecasts harsher winter for region

New Delhi: Temperatures in several parts of north India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, were appreciably below the normal on Sunday, with the IMD forecasting a harsher winter for the region and the national Capital likely to record its coldest November in at least 10 years.

In its all-India bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) also said that a "well marked low pressure area" lies over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of south Andaman Sea and equatorial Indian Ocean with associated cyclonic circulation.

This is very likely to concentrate into a depression during the next 36 hours and intensify further, it said as it warned fishermen not to venture into central parts of south Bay of Bengal on Monday.

For the national Capital, IMD data showed that it is likely to record its coldest November in at least 10 years, with the mean minimum temperature for the month this year hovering around 10 degrees Celsius.

In Delhi, the average minimum temperature for the month of November is 12.9 degrees Celsius.

From November 1 to November 29, the city has recorded a mean minimum temperature of 10.3 degrees Celsius, which is the lowest in at least a decade, according to the IMD data.

The mean minimum temperature was 15 degrees Celsius last year, 13.4 degrees Celsius in 2018 and 12.8 degrees Celsius in 2017 and 2016.

On Sunday, Delhi recorded a minimum of seven degrees Celsius.

This is the seventh day this month that the minimum temperature remained below 10 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature is likely to settle around seven degrees Celsius on Monday as well, according to the IMD.

IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said that North India is likely to expect a harsher winter and can see a rise in the frequency of cold waves this season.

The meteorological department, in its winter forecast for December to February, said below normal minimum temperatures are likely over north and central India.

"The winter is likely to be harsher in north India this season, Mohapatra said.

He added that the night temperatures in north India are likely to be below normal, while the day temperatures are expected to be above normal.

On the depression in the Bay of Bengal, the IMD said that heavy rainfall is very likely over some parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Lakshadweep, coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh from December 1 to December 3.