Tripura records lowest temperature deviation in India; IMD issues yellow alert for dense fog

Tripura has been witnessing unusually cold daytime conditions over the past five days, with temperatures remaining significantly below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Director of IMD Agartala, Dr Partha Roy, said that since January 1, the maximum daytime temperature in the state has consistently stayed well below the seasonal average. “For the last five days, the maximum daytime temperature has been significantly below normal, with deviations ranging between 3 and 9 degrees Celsius,” he said.

On January 5, Tripura recorded a maximum temperature of 16.8 degrees Celsius, which was 8.6 degrees below normal, marking the highest negative departure from normal temperature across the country on that day. “Bihar followed with around seven degrees below normal, while Tripura recorded a deviation of 8.6 degrees,” Dr Roy added.

He noted that the observed temperatures were in line with IMD forecasts, which had predicted that the maximum temperature would remain 3 to 6 degrees below normal over the last five days.

Looking ahead, the IMD has forecast that the cold conditions will persist for the next two to three days. “The maximum temperature is expected to remain three to five degrees below normal for the next two to three days, after which a slight increase is likely,” Dr Roy said. The minimum temperature during this period is expected to remain largely unchanged, hovering between 11 and 13 degrees Celsius over the next five days.

The IMD has also issued warnings for fog across the state. A dense fog warning has been issued for the next two days, with the possibility of dense fog at one or two locations in every district. A yellow alert has been issued for some places in all districts, while a shallow fog forecast has also been given.

In view of the prevailing weather conditions, the IMD has issued advisories for the transport sector for today and tomorrow. Meanwhile, the state government has decided to keep schools closed until January 10 as a precautionary measure.

Officials have advised residents to remain cautious, particularly during early morning hours when fog conditions are likely to affect visibility.