No Winter Chills This Time, IMD Predicts Warmer Winter In India, Due To El Nino

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.