Monday, September 29, 2025

Colder winter 2025-26 (Rabi season) and general outlook

 

The state Madhya Pradesh has received above average rainfall in monsoon season.  The 1-1.5°C below normal high temperature and 1.5-2°C above normal minimum temperatures have been recorded over the most part of Madhya Pradesh during second fortnight of September 2025. India Meteorological Department predicted a colder winter 2025-26 and hence the crops like, wheat, mustard, chickpea and pea as well as many vegetables crop could have better growth and yield. Winter-sown crops such as wheat, rapeseed, and chickpeas are planted from October to December and require cold weather conditions during their growth and maturity stages for optimal yields.

La Niña and prediction of winters cooler in parts of India

La Niña is the cold phase of ENSO (cooler-than-normal equatorial Pacific SSTs). It shifts large-scale circulation patterns (jet streams and storm tracks) that influence the subcontinent.

For northern & central India, several studies and operational forecasts show La Niña can increase the frequency/intensity of western disturbances and promote anomalous cooling in winter, producing colder spells and sometimes increased winter precipitation in some years (though details vary by event and region).

Operational agencies (IMD/CPC/WMO discussions in 2024–25) flagged a rising chance of La Niña for late 2025 and warned that a La Niña winter often correlates with colder-than-usual winter conditions across northern India.

East Madhya Pradesh

Minimum (night) temperatures: more likely to be below climatological normal on average during the core winter months (Dec–Jan), with an increased chance of cold nights and intermittent cold-wave events.

Expect a higher frequency of nights near the climatological cold extremes rather than a uniform shift everywhere. Maximum (day) temperatures: daytime values may be only modestly affected (cloud cover and WDs modulate daytime heating), but prolonged cloudy/wet spells from WDs would reduce daytime maxima during those spells.

Rainfall / fog: Some La Niña-linked circulation changes can alter western disturbance tracks — parts of north/central India sometimes see increased winter cloud/precipitation in certain La Niña events. Increased cloud/fog will raise night minima (reduce radiative cooling) locally, so impacts are spatially variable.

Role of GKMS

Alert for cold-sensitive crops (early stages of rabi crops, vegetables): prepare advisories for frost protection, delayed irrigation timings to reduce cold stress where needed.

Livestock: advise shelters, bedding, and feed buffering for expected cold spells.

Forecast-ready advisories: emphasize close monitoring of IMD/GKMS bulletins and local synoptic updates; issue short-term advisories when a strong western disturbance / cold-wave is imminent.

Post-event assessment: if La Niña brings more winter precipitation, prepare for waterlogging or delayed field operations in low-lying areas.

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