IMD to issue winter forecast and cold wave alerts this year

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

The forecast will be be issued for the December, January and February.

"By November end this year we will be issuing winter forecast for the season," IMD Director General K J Ramesh said.

The IMD has been issuing monsoon forecast for over 25 years now. This will be for the first time that the MET department will be issuing forecast for the winter season. It started forecasting warnings of "severe to very severe" heatwaves during the summer season this year.

IMD said that the forecast proved to be useful for people as such extreme heat wave advisories were issued well in advance.

Like summer, winter too is very harsh in several parts of India, including northern states and the gangetic belt, claiming human lives every 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.

Like the summer forecast, the winter forecast too will issue cold wave alerts, which will be updated at regular intervals.