Weather

Srinagar records season's first sub-zero night as mercury dips in valley

Srinagar city experienced the first sub-zero night of the season as the minimum temperature at most places of Kashmir plummeted below the freezing point, officials said on Monday. The city recorded a minimum of minus 0.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, Meteorological Department officials here said. They said it was the first sub-zero as well as the coldest night of the season so far. The night temperature in Srinagar was two degrees below normal for the season. Except for Kokernag, in south Kashmir, which recorded a minimum of 1.4 degrees Celsius, all other weather stations across the valley recorded sub-zero night temperature, the MeT officials said. Pahalgam tourist resort recorded a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, while the minimum in Gulmarg ski resort settled at minus 0.2 degrees Celsius, they said. Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley, recorded minus 0.9 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara in north Kashmir minus 1.2 degrees Celsius. The MeT Department has forecast mainly

Delhi cloud seeding trials only experiment to test feasibility: Official

The recent cloud seeding trials in New Delhi were purely an experiment, Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary M Ravichandran has said, stressing that such tests are essential to assess their feasibility before making them operational. Such experiments can end in success or failure, he said on Sunday. Ravichandran was at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune to attend the 11th WMO Scientific Conference on Weather Modification. Last month, the Delhi government, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, conducted cloud seeding trials in parts of the national capital to ease the city's air pollution crisis. However, the Opposition Congress has criticised the move, saying getting a slight improvement in a limited area for a day or two, as is now being claimed, is a cruel joke. Responding to a query on the cloud seeding trials, Ravichandran called them purely an experiment and said such experiments tend to have either positive or negative outcomes. Everybody is trying different t

CO2 levels hit record high in 2024, driving more extreme weather: UN agency

The UN weather agency said Wednesday that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere hit new record highs last year, and heat trapped by such greenhouse gases is turbo-charging the Earth's climate and causing more extreme weather. The World Meteorological Organisation said in its latest bulletin on greenhouse gases that C02 growth rates have now tripled since the 1960s, and emissions from human activities and more wildfires helped fan a vicious climate cycle." The Geneva-based agency said the increase of the global average concentration of carbon dioxide from 2023 to 2024 amounted to the highest annual level of any one-year span since measurements began in 1957. The heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is turbo-charging our climate and leading to more extreme weather," said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett in a statement. "Reducing emissions is therefore essential not just for our climate but also for our economic security and community well-being, The increase in 202

Delhi artificial rain trial may be delayed due to uncertain weather

The Delhi government's plan to conduct artificial rain trials in the city could be pushed back as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is yet to give a clear go-ahead, officials said. With a western disturbance likely to bring rain later this week, officials said the experiment will only be held when dry weather is assured. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the trial can yield meaningful results only if carried out in clear weather conditions. "We will wait until IMD gives us a green light and confirms there is no possibility of rain. Otherwise, there is no point in conducting the trial," he said. The Delhi government recently signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur for five such trials, to be conducted in northwest Delhi. The project, cleared by 23 departments including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is aimed at exploring whether cloud seeding can help tackle pollution during peak winter months. Funds have already been transferred to IIT Kanpur, which w

Heavy rains lash Nashik as Godavari river nears danger level in city

Heavy rains lashed Nashik in Maharashtra on Sunday, leading to water level in the Godavari river reaching close to the danger mark in the city and inundation of some temples in Ramkund area, officials said. The weather department has sounded a 'red alert', predicting heavy to very heavy rain accompanied by stormy winds in the district on Sunday and Monday. Heavy rains have also been forecast on Tuesday. Small temples in Ramkund area, including the famous Dutondya Maruti idol, and the Goda Ghat region alongside the Godavari river were submerged. Due to the flood in the Punad river in Kalwan taluka, contact with Kakane-Khedgaon village has been disrupted, as per officials. The heavy downpour in the catchment areas of Gangapur, Kashyapi and Gautami-Godavari dams prompted the discharge of water from these dams. Water reservoirs in the district were filled up to 98.11 per cent of their capacity. Currently, 8,684 cusec (cubic foot per second) of water is being discharged from the Gangap

Immunity Myths Busted: Kadha, Vitamins, Weather & Vaccines explained | Health facts

Do kadha, Vitamin C, and vaccines really boost immunity? In this episode of our fact-check series, doctors debunk the biggest immunity myths and reveal what truly helps your body fight infections.

IIT Kharagpur researchers flag how weather changes affect people

A new study by a team of researchers of IIT Kharagpur has warned that extreme weather events are not only becoming more frequent and intense but also affecting people very differently depending on where they live and how old they are. An IIT Kharagpur spokesperson said on Wednesday that by combining detailed climate projections with demographic data, the study compared the recent past (19912020) with the near future (20212050) under various warming and population growth scenarios. The research team, led by Prof Rajib Maity of Civil Engineering department, looked at how heat waves or cold waves can overlap with heavy rain or dry extremes. Its findings highlight stark insights as heat-related extremes concurrent with floods or droughts are projected to rise sharply worldwide, and Asia and Africa are set to be the hardest hit, with children and working-age adults facing the greatest risk. The study further flagged that sub-Saharan Africa will experience the highest youth exposure to .

Ant trails, frog calls to predict rain? NSU-NIT to decode Sanskrit texts

A six-month NSU-NIT programme will examine Sanskrit texts where frog behaviour, ant movements, and cloud patterns were linked to rainfall, drawing both interest and criticism

Thunderstorms likely in Jammu, yellow alert issued for Delhi-NCR

The Jammu region continues to be among the worst-hit areas in north India, with the weather department issuing an orange alert for Wednesday

The killer bolt: Lightning strikes now India's deadliest weather hazard

Lightning, a sudden discharge of electricity during thunderstorms, requires four conditions: intense heating, high humidity, atmospheric instability, and a trigger such as low pressure

Alfresco Affair: How to spend smart on outdoor furniture

As the weather turns, it's time to look at some outdoorsy furniture to make your fall and winter a more relaxing experience, be it out on the lawn or just the humble balcony

Paradise lost as climate change remakes Europe's summer weather

As southern Europeans dream of fjords, the traditional hot spots and fixtures of travel agency package deals no longer seem so desirable

Need to establish weather stations at wind, solar plants of 50 MW: CEA

In an effort to enhance grid reliability and efficiency of green energy projects, the Central Electricity Authority has proposed that an automatic weather station needs to be installed at wind and solar plants of 50 MW or above by the developer. In February, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) issued an advisory on co-locating energy storage systems with solar power projects to enhance the cost efficiency and stability of the grid. The solar and wind generation depend on weather conditions. There are issues like not getting accurate weather forecasts. Many a time, forecasting errors result in significant financial penalties under the Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM), the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has said in a notification dated July 7. There is a need to install automatic weather stations in solar and wind power plants, the CEA said, adding that it has prepared guidelines for the same and directed all renewable energy implementing agencies (REIAs) to include the .

Heavy rains trigger yellow alert in Mumbai; Modak Sagar lake overflows

India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a 'yellow alert' for Mumbai and coastal Maharashtra following incessant rain. Overflowing lakes signal improving water reserves

Forecast meets futures with NCDEX to tap real-time IMD weather data

This would help NCDEX develop statistically validated weather indices that form the foundation of weather-linked futures contracts

IMD weather alert: UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand brace for severe rain, storms

Weather update: Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to impact daily life across North India, including UP, Bihar, and Uttarakhand, warns IMD

Delhi weather update: IMD issues yellow alert for rain, thunderstorm

Delhi continues to wait for the arrival of monsoon; AQI turns satisfactory

DGCA revises guidelines for flight operations in adverse weather conditions

Aviation watchdog DGCA has revised its operational guidelines for operators during adverse weather conditions, emphasising that safety should take precedence over "schedule adherence" and encouraged pilots to divert flights in unpredictable conditions. Issuing an updated operations circular to scheduled and non-scheduled operators, the regulator also said pilots should cross-check visual cues with instruments to ensure accurate approach and landing assessments to deal with visual illusions that may occur during night operations in rain or on wet runways. The circular also comes against the backdrop of recent helicopter accidents in Kedarnath region and an IndiGo flight enroute to Srinagar encountering severe turbulence last month. Citing the growing impact of climate change on operational unpredictability, DGCA has advised flight crew to maintain heightened vigilance, "with an emphasis on safety taking precedence over schedule adherence". "Captains are encouraged to initiate ...

High inventory, weak demand dent prospects of air conditioner makers

Rain came early, sales didn't as cooling firms face a bloated inventory and damp volume squib

Datanomics: India's heatwave crisis at boiling point; economic risks mount

The economic toll is rising too. India could see 34 million of the projected 80 million global job losses from heat stress by 2030