Chandigarh: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) cautioned that several regions across the country may face a sharper drop in temperatures this December, with the number of cold wave days expected to exceed the seasonal norm in many northern and central states.
According to the IMD’s latest seasonal outlook, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and portions of Maharashtra could see four to five more cold wave days than usual. These states ordinarily record around four to six such days between December and February, making this winter’s forecast significantly colder for millions of residents.
A cold wave is typically declared when night temperatures plunge to 10°C or lower across the plains, or to freezing point in hilly terrain. It may also be announced when minimum temperatures fall 4.5°C to 6.4°C below what is expected for the season.
For the broader winter period — December 2025 through February 2026 — the IMD expects minimum temperatures to stay at or below the long-term average over a wide swath of central India, parts of the peninsula, and much of the northwest. In contrast, warmer-than-usual nights are anticipated in eastern, southern and some northeastern regions.
Daytime temperatures are likely to follow a similar pattern: most regions could see normal to slightly cooler afternoons, while pockets of the northwest and northeast, along with stretches bordering the Himalayas, may end up warmer than average.
The country has already felt an early bite of winter. The season’s first round of cold to severe cold wave conditions appeared unusually soon, gripping isolated areas between November 8 and 18. Northeast Rajasthan, southern Haryana, northern Madhya Pradesh, southern Uttar Pradesh and northern Chhattisgarh bore the brunt of the chill during this spell, while interior Maharashtra experienced a similar dip between November 15 and 20.
Another brief but intense cold wave is forecast to sweep parts of northwest and central India between December 3 and 5, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.
Mohapatra also noted that weak La Niña conditions are expected to continue through February. Such ocean–atmosphere patterns are well known for amplifying winter severity across the northern hemisphere — including India — often resulting in prolonged spells of lower temperatures.
With the IMD’s seasonal projections pointing to a more persistent chill, authorities in vulnerable districts are expected to step up preparations in the coming days, particularly for sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and power distribution that typically face added strain during extended cold waves.
