As India is all set for the onset of winters, the Indian Meteorological Department has forecasted another winter ¡°warmer than usual¡± in the country. According to the IMD, normal to ¡°slightly¡± above normal temperatures are expected during the October-November-December 2018 period.
Winter temperatures too are likely to be higher than normal during December, January, February 2018-19.
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They have however not predicted the degree by which temperatures will rise this winter. D S Pai, the head of IMD¡¯s Climate Prediction Group, said temperatures are likely to be ¡°normal to above¡± in most of South Asia during the latter part of this year. The effects will be felt in India as well, especially in the northwestern parts of the country.
¡°El Ni?o has not set in yet, so there may not be a big impact on the current temperatures. However, the phenomenon may reach threshold values during the October-November-December period, which might subsequently impact winter temperatures,¡± he said.
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Currently, warm neutral El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions prevail in the Pacific Ocean. These might soon turn into ¡°borderline¡± or ¡°weak¡± El Ni?o conditions during the October-November-December period, subsequently impacting the winter temperatures.??
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Meanwhile, the Air Quality Index in Delhi continues to be in the ¡®poor¡¯ category as the pollution levels continue to rise. The AQI is expected to further deteriorate in the comings days due to the stubble burning and a western disturbance.?