December is here and so is winter. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday warned that the next three months will see higher than normal cold wave days.
Most of north and central India will witness cold waves that are above normal, according to the weatherman. Some parts of the country, including the northwest and northeast and Himalayan foothills may experience above-normal maximum temperatures.
IMD said it expects four to five additional days of cold wave in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Some parts of Maharashtra will also see cold wave days.
"During the upcoming winter season (December 2025 to February 2026), normal to below-normal minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of central India and adjoining peninsular and northwest India," said IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, "Above-normal minimum temperatures are likely over the remaining parts of the country."
The first round of cold wave conditions were reported from November 8 to 18 in northeastern Rajasthan, southern Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, northern Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Later, another wave was reported from November 15 to 20 in north interior Maharashtra.
The next cold wave conditions are expected from December 3 to 5. "We are expecting weak La Niña conditions to continue during the December to February period," Mohapatra said.
November saw normal to below-normal temperatures in most parts of the country, except parts of southeast peninsular India, the northeastern states and areas in the extreme northwest.
Temperatures over north India was affected by western disturbances and rain-bearing weather systems originating in the Mediterranean region but almost all were mostly dry.