Residents across Nagpur and Gondia were jolted awake on Tuesday morning by a severe and unexpected cold snap, as minimum temperatures plummeted across the Vidarbha region. The sharp drop marked the coldest morning of the current winter season so far.
Mercury Plummets Across Vidarbha
Gondia emerged as the coldest spot in the entire state of Maharashtra, recording a chilling minimum temperature of 7°C. This also stood as the lowest reading in the Vidarbha region this season. Not far behind, Nagpur city registered its lowest minimum of the winter at 7.6°C. Other districts like Wardha and Amravati also shivered, with temperatures dropping to 8.4°C and 9.2°C respectively.
The city of Nagpur experienced the most drastic change, with the mercury falling by a sharp 6 degrees within just 24 hours. This sudden dip forced schoolchildren and office-goers to bundle up in warm clothing, with many seen shivering during the morning commute. The cold daytime temperatures lent the city an unusual hill-station-like ambiance, which many residents enjoyed later in the day.
Scientific Cause Behind the Chill
According to Dr. Rizwan Ahmed, a scientist at the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Regional Meteorological Centre in Nagpur, the intense cold was triggered by specific atmospheric conditions. The primary driver was the subtropical westerly jet stream positioned over northwest India. This was the second such instance since December where this jet stream caused a sharp temperature fall in Vidarbha.
"Clear skies and dry weather allowed for strong radiational cooling at night," explained Dr. Ahmed. "The prevailing subtropical westerly jet stream over northwest India, along with dry conditions, supported enhanced cooling, particularly during the late night and early morning hours."
Impact and Forecast
The cold wave has extended beyond discomfort, impacting agricultural activities. Puspak Khapre, a farmer from Chandur Railway in Amravati, highlighted the adverse effects. "The cold wave damages crops, and labourers are unable to work efficiently in such hostile weather," he stated, pointing to the wider economic repercussions.
The IMD forecasts that cold wave conditions are likely to persist in isolated pockets of Vidarbha for the next two days, with no significant change in minimum temperatures expected in the immediate 24 hours. Dry weather is set to continue over the region. However, a slight respite is on the horizon, with temperatures predicted to rise by about 2-3°C over the following three days. Similar weather patterns are expected to prevail across the region for the upcoming week.
Officials noted that Nagpur has been witnessing an unusual cold weather pattern in recent years, with temperatures frequently staying below 10°C on most December days. So far this season, the city has already endured four cold wave days since December began.
