Residents of Patna and its neighbouring regions finally caught a glimpse of the winter sun on Monday, December 23, offering a fleeting respite from the persistent fog that had enveloped the area for four consecutive days. While people stepped out to soak in the weak sunlight, their search for warmth was cut short by persistent chilly northwesterly winds, ensuring the cold's firm grip remained.
Statewide Cold Day Conditions and Temperature Plunge
The relief in the capital was not mirrored across the state. Severe cold day conditions were reported in Gaya district, where dense fog reduced visibility to just 50 metres. Districts including Nalanda, Arwal, and Jehanabad also grappled with cold day conditions. The mercury dipped sharply in several areas, with Rajgir in Nalanda recording the state's lowest minimum temperature at a chilly 6.6 degrees Celsius. In contrast, Kishanganj reported the highest maximum temperature of 22.1 degrees Celsius.
Over the last 24 hours, maximum temperatures across Bihar ranged between 15 and 22.1 degrees Celsius, while minimums varied from 6.6 to 12.7 degrees. In Patna specifically, the minimum was 12.5°C and the maximum was 18.9°C, which is four degrees below the seasonal normal.
IMD Forecast: More Fog and Intensifying Cold Nights
According to the daily weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday, the cold spell is far from over. The forecast predicts that dense fog and cold day conditions will continue, especially in the northwestern and north-central parts of the state on December 23. This weather pattern is expected to extend to western and central regions from December 24 to 26, with some eastern areas also likely to be affected.
Moderate to dense fog is likely to shroud isolated places across Bihar for the next 4-5 days. A meteorologist indicated that while daytime temperatures might see a slight rise of 1-4 degrees in many places over the coming 2-3 days, night temperatures are set to fall further. "After no major change in the next 48 hours, nighttime lows are predicted to drop further by 2-4 degrees, intensifying the cold as the week progresses," the expert stated.
For the next three days, minimum temperatures in most parts of Bihar will hover between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius, while maximums will range from 16 to 20 degrees Celsius.
Impact on Travel and Daily Life
Despite the challenging weather, flight operations at Patna's Jayprakash Narayan International Airport remained smooth on Monday morning, with flights arriving as per schedule at 9:30 AM. However, some flights experienced delays due to bad weather in other destination cities and operational challenges.
The ongoing cold wave and fog continue to disrupt daily life, urging residents to take necessary precautions against the biting cold as the IMD's forecast suggests the situation will intensify in the nights ahead.
