Residents of Patna were greeted by bright sunshine on New Year's Day, providing a welcome break from the intense winter cold gripping Bihar. While the state capital enjoyed clear skies and pleasant conditions, a large part of the state continued to struggle with severe cold day weather and thick fog, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Statewide Chill Contrasts with Patna's Sunshine
The latest daily weather bulletin from the IMD painted a picture of contrasting conditions across Bihar on Thursday. Patna and some southern regions experienced partial to full sunshine, allowing people to venture out for celebrations. Popular spots like the ghats along the Ganges, parks, the zoo, and temples saw crowds basking in the winter sun, exchanging greetings and prayers for the New Year.
However, this relief was largely confined to the capital. Most other areas reported cold day conditions, with severe cold day conditions specifically recorded in Chhapra and Madhubani. Districts like Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, and Samastipur also remained under a cold spell.
Temperature Details and IMD's Weekly Forecast
Weather remained dry across Bihar over the past 24 hours. Maximum temperatures across the state ranged from 14.6°C to 22.7°C, with Kishanganj recording the highest. Some eastern and southern parts noted a slight rise of 1–3°C.
Minimum temperatures told a starker story, varying between 5.8°C and 10.5°C. The lowest minimum was recorded at Jiradei in Siwan district at 5.8°C. Around 21 districts experienced minimums below 10°C. Patna's minimum settled at 8.2°C, which is 1.4 degrees below the normal range, while its daytime temperature was 18.3°C. Visibility in Bhagalpur dropped to as low as 20 meters due to dense fog.
The IMD forecasts dry weather across Bihar for the next seven days, with no major change in maximum or minimum temperatures expected over the coming five days. The department has issued specific warnings:
- January 2: Cold day conditions in Gopalganj, Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Madhepura, and Purnea, alongside dense fog in northern districts.
- January 3: Cold days may occur in Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Purnea, and Katihar, with dense fog in the north and south-east.
- January 4 & 5: Dense fog is likely in northern Bihar.
- January 6 & 7: Fog may spread across several areas.
Persistent Fog and Official Advisory
Duty officer A K Suraj from the IMD stated that moderate to dense fog is forecast in many places over the next four to five days, which could significantly affect road and rail visibility. This persistent fog blanket, particularly over northern Bihar, continues to disrupt daily life even as Patna manages to find sunny intervals.
The sunny New Year's day in Patna offered a temporary respite, but the IMD's outlook suggests that the winter chill and fog will dominate Bihar's weather narrative for at least the first week of 2025.
