Met department to issue alerts for severe winter this year

NEW DELHI: In a first, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) will issue winter forecast and cold wave alerts for the season from this year. The forecasts will

NEW DELHI: In a first, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) will issue winter forecast and cold wave alerts for the season from this year. The forecasts will be issued for December, January and February.

HT Image

“By November end this year, we will be issuing winter forecast for the season,” IMD director general KJ Ramesh said.

The IMD has been issuing monsoon forecasts for over 25 years. This will be the first time that the department will issue a forecast for the winter season. The IMD started forecasting warnings of “severe to very severe” heat waves during the summer season this year.

“Like the summer forecast where above normal temperature was important, the winter forecast will give a general outlay on whether the temperatures in the cold season will be ‘above normal’ or ‘below normal’. We will be specifying which pockets are likely to expect below normal temperatures,” Ramesh said.