What actually happened in the last 24 hours
Many places in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh recorded cold wave to severe cold wave conditions. Minimum temperatures went markedly below normal in pockets of East Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi and Odisha. The lowest temperature on the plains was 6.0°C at Sikar in East Rajasthan – that is proper winter stuff in November.
Down south, Tamil Nadu saw isolated heavy showers (7-11 cm) at a few stations, especially Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi and Nilgiris areas. A couple of places in north Kerala also picked up decent rain.
Cold wave forecast till 16 November
The IMD expects cold wave conditions in scattered pockets of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh today and tomorrow, and in isolated pockets even on the 16th. Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and East Rajasthan will also stay under cold wave grip through the 16th.
Most other parts of the country will not see big changes in night temperatures, but West India might cool down another 3-4°C after the next 24 hours. Shallow to moderate fog is likely in Uttar Pradesh and Northeast India for the next five days, so drivers please slow down in the mornings.
Heavy rain coming back to the south
Two cyclonic circulations – one near south Sri Lanka and another over Bangladesh – are pulling moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Because of this:
- Tamil Nadu and Kerala will get light to moderate rain at most places today, with isolated heavy falls. The same pattern returns 16-18 November.
- Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema will see rain picking up from the 17th to 19th.
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands can expect rain on 18th and 19th, with gusty winds 30-50 kmph from 16th to 19th.
Thunderstorms and lightning are possible in Tamil Nadu right through the 18th, in Kerala on 14th, 17th and 18th, and in Coastal Andhra on 16th-17th.
Fishermen, please stay ashore
The sea will be rough in several areas. Fishermen are advised not to venture out:
- Along and off Sri Lanka coast and southwest Bay of Bengal – today (14th)
- Along south and north Tamil Nadu coast – 15th & 16th
- Gulf of Mannar and Comorin area – 14th to 17th
- Andaman Sea – 18th
How Delhi-NCR will feel the next four days
Delhi stayed mostly clear with minimums hovering between 10-12°C, which is already 2-5°C below normal. Shallow fog was seen at Palam this morning.
14th: Mainly clear, mist at night, max 24-26°C
15th: Clear sky, smog/shallow fog in the morning, min 9-11°C
16th: Same, min dipping to 8-10°C
17th: Clear with moderate fog at isolated places in the morning, min 8-10°C, max 23-25°C
Winds will stay light, mostly from northwest. Perfect weather for a bonfire, not so great if you have respiratory issues because of the smog and fog mix.
Stay safe from the cold – simple things that work
Cold wave is not just uncomfortable, it can make you properly sick. Flu, runny nose, nosebleeds and even frostbite in extreme cases are real risks when you stay out in the cold too long.
Wear layers of loose warm clothes instead of one thick jacket. Cover head, ears, neck, hands and feet – most body heat escapes from there. Eat fruits rich in vitamin C, drink warm fluids, and try to stay indoors as much as possible, especially kids and elderly. If someone is shivering non-stop or skin turns pale and numb, warm them slowly with lukewarm water and rush to a doctor if it turns black.
Quick tips for farmers
In Tamil Nadu: Harvest only when it is dry, drain water from rice, sugarcane, pulses and vegetable fields, give banana plants proper support.
In UP, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand: Light irrigation in the evening, mulch vegetable beds, cover nurseries with straw or polythene, keep young fruit plants protected.
Livestock: Keep animals inside sheds at night, give dry bedding, store fodder in a dry place. For fish ponds, make sure excess water can drain without fish escaping.
That is the weather picture for the next few days. Stay warm, stay dry, and keep checking reliable updates. Winter has arrived early in many places – let us be ready for it.