Sunny day brings brief relief from biting cold in city

Patna: State capital and surrounding areas experienced a pleasant sunny day on Monday, providing temporary relief from the intense winter chill, as clear skies allowed sunlight to ease the cold slightly during daytime hours. However, the respite was short-lived, with nights remaining bitterly cold across Bihar.

Gaya shivered at 5.5 degrees Celsius, while 10 other cities saw night-time readings dipping into single digits, including Rajgir at 5.6 degrees and Aurangabad at 6 degrees. Patna’s minimum hovered at 9.6 degrees Celsius. Daytime maximums, aided by sunshine, reached 14-19 degrees Celsius in most places, offering some comfort but still well below normal for the season.

The highest maximum temperature in the state was 19.5 degrees Celsius, recorded at Sheikhpura. Across Bihar, minimum temperatures varied from 5.5 degrees to 13 degrees Celsius, with a drop of 2-5 degrees Celsius observed in west and north-west parts compared to normal levels. Visibility was severely affected in several areas, with the lowest reading of 100 metres recorded at Gaya due to thick fog.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Patna, forecast no major change in the weather pattern over the next six days. “Dry conditions will prevail across the entire state. Clear skies may continue to allow sunshine during the day, but this will be offset by sharp drops in temperature at night and persistent cold north-westerly winds. Maximum temperatures are likely to stay between 14-18 degrees Celsius in most areas, with no significant warming trend anticipated in the coming days,” duty officer A K Suraj said.

Minimum temperatures across the state will range from 6-12 degrees Celsius, with further dips to 6-8 degrees Celsius possible in northern and south-eastern regions. No notable rise in temperatures is expected over the next 4-5 days, allowing the intense cold to persist.

Dense fog will continue to blanket many areas, especially in the mornings and late evenings, affecting visibility in districts such as West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, and parts of central Bihar. Cold day conditions—where maximum temperatures remain markedly below normal—are likely to persist in north, north-west, and south-west parts, including Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, and Jehanabad.