A severe and shivering cold spell has tightened its grip on Northeast India in the final week of December, with temperatures across the region plunging significantly below seasonal averages. The mercury dipped a staggering 5 to 6 degrees Celsius below normal in numerous locations on Monday, bringing life to a chilly standstill from state capitals to remote villages.
Record Temperature Drops Across the Region
The sharp decline in temperatures was starkly evident in the recorded data. Minimum temperatures varied widely, ranging between a biting 5°C and 20°C across several northeastern states. However, the departure from normal daytime maximum temperatures told a more dramatic story.
Agartala recorded the most severe deviation, with a maximum temperature of just 17.8°C, marking a departure of 7.3°C below the normal range. Close behind was Tezpur at 17.9°C, which was 6.3°C below normal, and Guwahati at 18.5°C, registering 6°C below normal. In western Assam, Dhubri reported a maximum of 16.9°C, which was 5°C below the expected level for Monday.
Life Disrupted by Dense Fog and Biting Chill
The cold wave was accompanied by dense fog, which blanketed cities like Guwahati throughout Monday, blocking sunlight and intensifying the feeling of cold. Residents across the region felt the harsh impact as the mercury fell drastically.
"It’s shivering cold and very difficult to go to office. We couldn’t arrange picnics due to the foggy weather. Hopefully, the first week of the New Year will be sunny," shared Rashmi Saikia, a resident of Khanapara in Guwahati. To combat the intense cold, many people were seen lighting small fires to keep warm.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that dense fog with visibility reduced to between 50 and 199 metres was observed in isolated pockets of Assam and Meghalaya in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Monday.
IMD Issues Warnings for Coming Days
The regional meteorological centre has issued a clear warning, stating that dense fog is very likely to persist in isolated pockets of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on Tuesday.
For Tuesday, the Met office has predicted light rain in isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It also forecasted that light snowfall is very likely in the higher reaches of Arunachal Pradesh. In contrast, dry weather is expected to prevail over Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
As the year draws to a close, the people of Northeast India are bundling up, hoping for respite and warmer, sunnier days as they step into the New Year.
