Page 6 - Weather Warning

In world of extreme weather, plan financial inclusion for the weakest

Poor households are the most vulnerable in extreme weather. Women bear a disproportionate burden as they source scarce water and work in high temperatures

Consider weather, climate inputs while planning one nation, one poll: IMD

With the government contemplating the idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and state elections, India Meteorological Department chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the authorities should certainly take weather conditions and the climate into consideration when planning for such a massive exercise. Mohapatra told PTI in an interview that India will experience intense heat during the general election period, and the IMD is providing specialised forecasts to help authorities prepare better, but it has not proposed a change in the timings of public rallies and voting. Asked about the ideal time to hold elections, given the central government's contemplation of the 'one nation, one poll' concept, the IMD director general stressed that the authorities must consider weather conditions and the climate while planning. 'One nation, one poll' refers to the idea of holding simultaneous polls in the country to elect Lok Sabha and state assembly representatives. The government has proposed this idea, sayi

Dry spell, sporadic rainfall take a toll on tea production in March

Problem acute for prized Darjeeling tea, which is crucial for tea companies' revenue

Delhi records minimum temperature of 21.8 degrees, thunderstorm exoected

Delhi on Saturday registered a minimum temperature of 21.8 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The humidity levels were recorded at 64 per cent at 8:30 am. The weatherman has forecast a thunderstorm with rain during the day. The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 37 degrees Celsius, it said. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was recorded in the "moderate" category with a reading of 181 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

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Highlights of the day: Delhi airport sees 13 flight diversions on Feb 1

From the delay in train, flight services to the updates about the interim budget 2024, catch all latest news here

IMD decides to shut down all 199 district agromet units across country

The India Meteorological Department has decided to discontinue the services of the 199 district agromet units that provide crucial and detailed weather-related advisories to lakhs of farmers at the block level, helping them reduce crop losses and increase income. In an order issued on January 17, the IMD said the services of the district agromet units (DAMU) will not be extended beyond the current financial year (2023-2024). "Therefore, you are requested to kindly take necessary action for discontinuation of services of district agromet units (DAMUs) and winding up the existing 199 DAMUs," the order said. According to the minutes of the Expenditure Finance Committee (Finance Ministry) meeting held in February last year, a senior advisor of Niti Aayog had advised reevaluation of the "necessity of providing staff at each DAMU". The official suggested the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) may have "centralised units instead of field units as the collection of data is automated". The

Delhi's average maximum temperature from January 1-30 lowest in 13 years

The average maximum temperature in Delhi this month till January 30 stood at 17.7 degrees Celsius, the lowest in 13 years, according to official data till Tuesday. The average minimum temperature in the national capital during the same period was pegged at 6.2 degrees Celsius, the second lowest in 13 years, the data showed. Fog enveloped parts of Delhi on Tuesday morning and the Safdarjung observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius around 9.30 am. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 100 per cent, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. The maximum temperature settled at 21.4 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal. It was recorded at 22.6 degrees Celsius on Monday. Late on Tuesday, a senior IMD official shared the year-wise data on the average maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi for January, with reference to readings recorded at the Safdarjung observatory -- the official marker for the national capital. The average maximum temperatur

Weather risk emerges on radar of insurance industry after $70 billion hit

The development is forcing the industry to rethink some of its risk assumptions amid a clear uptick in the number of thunderstorms across Europe

Thousands forced out of their homes after 7.1 quake hits western China

As aftershocks continued to rock western China on Wednesday, more than 12,000 people were staying in tents and other shelters, lighting bonfires to fend off the freezing weather. The previous day, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in a remote part of China's Xinjiang region killed three people and left five injured, while damaging hundreds of buildings. The quake caused significant damage amid freezing temperatures, but the toll on lives and property was relatively light, owing to the sparse population around the epicenter in Uchturpan county, near the border with Kazakhstan. Footage shown by state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday showed evacuees eating instant noodles in tents with bonfires providing heat. Jian Gewa, a 16-year old student in Uchturpan, said he was in the bathroom when the quake began. The entire building shook violently. I just thought I had to get myself to safety as quickly as possible, Jian said. He was evacuated to a school where he was staying in a dorm room with his

Cold weather conditions persist in North India; Bathinda, Sirsa coldest

Cold weather conditions continued to persist in Punjab and Haryana, with Bathinda and Sirsa being the coldest places in the two states on Friday. According to the Meteorological Department here, Bathinda in Punjab recorded a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius while Sirsa in Haryana recorded a low of 4.2 degrees Celsius. Several other parts of the two states were also under the grip of cold weather and experienced dense fog in the morning. In Punjab, Amritsar, Faridkot, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Patiala and Pathankot recorded respective minimums of 6.8 degrees Celsius, 5 degrees Celsius, 5 degrees Celsius, 6.8 degrees Celsius, 7.7 degrees Celsius and 6 degrees Celsius. In Haryana, Bhiwani and Fatehabad reeled under severe cold recording respective minimum temperatures of 4.3 degrees Celsius and 4.6 degrees Celsius. Hisar, Karnal, Rohtak, Narnaul and Ambala recorded respective minimums of 5 degrees Celsius, 7 degrees Celsius, 7.6 degrees Celsius, 6 degrees Celsius and 8.6 degrees .

Fog in North India causes flight delays, passengers express frustration

It always happens to other people. Or so I thought. Until my flight from balmy Kozhikode to fogged out Delhi was delayed thrice, took off at 12.35 am and then circled over the national capital for close to two hours before landing in almost zero visibility conditions. I reached home on Monday around 6 am, tired, cold, a little traumatised after the night-long ordeal and awake' to the realisation that I was one of the lucky ones. Hundreds of passengers, some old and ailing, others with babies and small children, were stuck at airports across the country with their flights delayed by up to 13 hours, diverted or simply cancelled. As a thick blanket of fog descends over much of north India, particularly Delhi, the very act of taking a flight is edged with uncertainty. It's an every-winter story and one that I featured in this year. Travelling with me on IndGo flight 6E 5912 that was delayed by three hours - the airline thankfully kept us in the loop with messages - were several ...

North India wakes up to thick layer of fog, trains, flights delayed

A thick layer of fog cloaked the Indo-Gangetic plains in north India on Tuesday, with poor visibility disrupting road and rail traffic. Satellite imagery showed a dense elongated band of fog stretching from Punjab to the northeast. A spokesperson for the railways said 30 trains arriving in Delhi were delayed by up to six hours due to foggy weather. At 5:30 am, visibility levels stood at zero metres in Varanasi, Agra, Gwalior, Jammu, Pathankot and Chandigarh; 20 metres in Gaya; 50 metres in Prayagraj and Tezpur; 100 metres in Agartala; 200 metres in Amritsar; and 300 metres in Gorakhpur. At the Palam Observatory near the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, visibility was limited to only 50 metres. Early morning foggy weather in north and northeast India has heavily impacted road, rail and air traffic over the last fortnight. On Monday, five flights were diverted and more than 100 flights were delayed at the Delhi airport. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia sai

Winter storm to bring snow, winds, ice and life-threatening chill to US

Brutally cold weather could prove a deadly challenge Saturday amid a continuing wave of Arctic storms that has hammered much of the country with blinding snow, freezing rain and whipping winds. Governors from New York to Louisiana declared states of emergency ahead of predicted snow and bone-chilling temperatures. In St. Louis, the National Weather Service bureau warned of rare and life-threatening cold. The fierce weather blitzed campaign schedules in Iowa, the leadoff GOP caucus state. With a blizzard warning covering most of the state, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump all shuffled their schedules ahead of Monday's presidential vote. Near-record cold in Kansas City will make for a frigid NFL playoff game Saturday night, when the Chiefs host Miami. Fans will be allowed to bring in blankets and first-aid stations were set up at Arrowhead Stadium. On Sunday, fans in Buffalo will contend with up to a foot (30 centimeters) of snow and fierce winds as the Bill

Fake news biggest immediate risk, extreme weather top long-term threat: WEF

With close to 300 crore people expected to head to elections across countries including India and the US in two years, misinformation and societal polarisation have emerged among the biggest immediate risks before the world, a global study showed on Wednesday. In the case of India alone, 'misinformation and disinformation' poses the top-most threat in the next two years, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said in its annual 'Global Risks Report'. It is followed by infectious diseases, illicit economic activity, income inequality and labour shortage among the five biggest short-term risks. On a longer-term horizon of ten years, the biggest global risk would be from extreme weather events. The report warned of a global risk landscape in which progress in human development is being chipped away slowly, leaving states and individuals vulnerable to new and resurgent risks. "Against a backdrop of systemic shifts in global power dynamics, climate, technology and demographics, global risks ar

Delhi sees moderate fog, minimum temperature settles at 8.9 degrees Celsius

Delhi witnessed moderate fog on Saturday morning while the minimum temperature settled at 8.9 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The visibility at Safdarjung, Delhi's main weather station, and Palam was 500 metres at 5:30 am, the IMD said. The relative humidity stood at 100 per cent at 8:30 am. Train services were impacted due to fog with 14 Delhi-bound trains delayed, according to officials. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 315, in the 'very poor' category, at 9 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Rajasthan's Sikar coldest in north India at 1 degrees Celsius: Top 10 list

Cold wave in north India: Haryana's Hisar and Amritsar in Punjab followed the lead and as many as five cities shivered around minimum temperatures hovering at 5 degrees Celsius or below

Cold morning in north on New Year; mercury drops in Delhi, rain alert in UP

Cold day conditions prevailed in Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana on Monday while IMD has issued a rain alert for UP, MP on Tuesday

Cyclone Michaung: State's data centres struggle to weather heavy storm

Connectivity drowns as servers bear the brunt of Cyclone Michaung's fury

LIVE news: Revanth Reddy to take oath as Telangana CM on December 7

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