IMD reports significant November temperature drop across India

An early-season cold burst is sweeping across large parts of the country, making the first half of November significantly colder than usual. Minimum temperatures have stayed below normal almost every day this month from the northern plains to central India and Maharashtra, a pattern IMD scientists described as "climatologically unusual, but still within year-to-year variability". Cold to severe cold wave conditions affected parts of Madhya Maharashtra and west Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, with isolated pockets of west MP likely to be impacted on Wednesday and Friday.

Temperature trends and anomalies

Delhi has recorded its earliest single-digit minimum in 11 years, staying below 10°C since November 15. Monday’s minimum of 8.7°C was nearly four notches below normal. IMD’s all-India temperature anomaly maps for the first 18 days of November show large regions registering minimum temperatures 2–3°C below normal, while parts of the country reported readings 2–6°C below normal on Tuesday. Persistent northwesterly or northerly winds have contributed to the decline.

Regional impact of the cold spell

East Madhya Pradesh may see a cold wave spell till Friday, while Vidarbha, Marathwada, Telangana and Chhattisgarh experienced cold wave conditions on Tuesday. Parts of Madhya Maharashtra may again record similar conditions on Wednesday. Maharashtra, which seldom experiences widespread November cold, is notably affected. Pune recorded its coldest November morning in nine years on Tuesday (based on the first 18 days of the month), with minimum temperatures dropping to 9.4°C in Shivajinagar and 9°C in Pashan.

Meteorological assessments

"Across many parts of northwest, central, east and north peninsular India, minimum temperatures are below normal due to persistent northwesterly or northerly winds. Cold wave conditions are prevailing over parts of central and north peninsular India," said IMD scientist Naresh Kumar.

Experts on the early winter-like conditions

Skymet Weather president G. P. Sharma said many regions have entered winter-like conditions ahead of schedule. "A sharp cold wave is gripping Maharashtra, with Madhya Maharashtra, and even Mumbai, seeing single-digit lows and temperatures 5–8 degrees below normal. Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam are facing a sharper-than-usual November chill, with minimum temperatures running well below normal. Punjab, Haryana and east Rajasthan are also reporting unusually low minimum temperatures, with several cities dipping into single digits and isolated cold-wave conditions," he said.

(With inputs from TOI)