Agartala, Jan 7: Tripura has been experiencing an unusual spell of cold weather, marked by abnormally low daytime temperatures over the past five days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Meteorological officials said the state has remained significantly colder than seasonal norms since the beginning of January, affecting daily life and prompting precautionary measures.
IMD Agartala Director Dr Partha Roy said that from January 1 onwards, the maximum temperature across Tripura has consistently stayed well below average. He explained that daytime temperatures have shown a negative departure ranging from 3 to as much as 9 degrees Celsius, indicating an extended cold phase. On January 5, the state recorded a maximum temperature of just 16.8 degrees Celsius, which was 8.6 degrees below normal — the sharpest drop recorded anywhere in the country that day. By comparison, Bihar reported the next highest deviation, at around seven degrees below normal.
Dr Roy noted that the prevailing conditions were in line with earlier forecasts issued by the IMD, which had predicted below-normal maximum temperatures during this period. He said the cold spell is expected to continue for another two to three days, with daytime temperatures likely to remain three to five degrees below normal before a gradual rise sets in. Night temperatures, however, are expected to remain largely stable, ranging between 11 and 13 degrees Celsius over the next five days.
Alongside the cold conditions, fog has emerged as a major concern across the state. The IMD has issued a dense fog warning for the next two days, cautioning that one or two locations in every district may experience reduced visibility. A yellow alert has been issued for parts of all districts, along with forecasts of shallow fog during early morning hours.
In response to the weather conditions, the IMD has released advisories for the transport sector for today and tomorrow, urging caution due to poor visibility. The Tripura government has also announced the closure of schools until January 10 as a preventive measure to safeguard students.
Authorities have advised residents to remain alert, especially during early mornings, as dense fog combined with low temperatures may pose risks to travel and daily activities.
