City basks in winter sun on New Year, but IMD warns of chill

Patna: Residents of Patna ushered in the New Year under bright sunshine, offering slight relief from the persistent winter chill across Bihar on Thursday. While the state capital enjoyed clear skies and pleasant daytime conditions, much of Bihar continued to experience cold day conditions and dense fog, according to the latest daily weather bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).Weather across Bihar remained dry over the past 24 hours. Severe cold day conditions were recorded in Chhapra and Madhubani, while cold day conditions prevailed in Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, and Samastipur. Maximum temperatures ranged from 14.6°C to 22.7°C, with the highest recorded in Kishanganj. A slight rise of 1–3°C was noted in some eastern and southern parts with little change elsewhere.Minimum temperatures varied between 5.8°C and 10.5°C, with the lowest recorded at Jiradei in Siwan district. Around 21 districts experienced temperatures below 10°C, with Patna registering 8.2°C, 1.4 notches below the normal range. The daytime temperature in the state capital stood at 18.3°C.No significant change in minimum temperatures was observed across most areas, while visibility dropped to as low as 20 m in Bhagalpur due to dense fog.Despite the statewide chill and fog in northern districts, Patna and southern regions enjoyed partial to full sunshine, allowing residents to step out and celebrate. Crowds gathered at popular spots including ghats along the Ganges, parks, the zoo, and temples, where the winter sun created a warm and festive atmosphere for family outings, prayers, and New Year greetings.The IMD forecasts dry weather across Bihar for the next seven days, with no major changes expected in maximum or minimum temperatures over the coming five days. Cold day warnings were issued for Gopalganj, Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Madhepura, and Purnea on Jan 2, alongside dense fog in northern districts.“On Jan 3, cold days may occur in Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Purnea, and Katihar, with dense fog in the north and south-east. Dense fog is likely in northern Bihar on Jan 4 and 5, and may spread across several areas on Jan 6 and 7. Moderate to dense fog is forecast in many places over the next four to five days, potentially affecting visibility,” said duty officer A K Suraj.