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Informist, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026

 

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--IMD: Heavy rainfall, floods claimed over 1,370 lives in 2025 
--IMD: Over 35 people died from heat-wave conditions in 2025 
--IMD: Thunderstorm, lightning claimed over 1,310 lives in 2025 
--IMD: 2025 eighth-warmest year on record, 2024 warmest year 
--IMD: India Dec rainfall 68.9?low normal at 4.9 mm 
--IMD: Dec rainfall in east, northeast 95.2?low normal at 0.6 mm 
--IMD: Dec rainfall in south peninsula 37.3?low normal at 20.1 mm 
--IMD: Dec rainfall in central India 99?low normal at 0.0 mm 
--IMD: Dec rainfall in northwest India 84.8?low normal at 2.9 mm 
--IMD:68% chance of La Nina conditions; El Nino-Southern Oscillation Jan-Mar 
--IMD: La Nina conditions likely to continue for next month or two 
--IMD: La Nina conditions likely to continue for next month or two 
--IMD: La Nina to transition to El Nino-Southern Oscillation in Jan-Mar 
--IMD: Below normal minimum temperatures seen over most of India in Jan 
--IMD: Below normal maximum temperatures seen over many parts of India Jan 
--IMD: See India Jan rainfall 82-118% of long-period average 
--IMD: Jan rains seen at 78-122% of long-period avg in northwest India 
--IMD: See India Jan-Mar rainfall at 88% of long-period average 
--IMD: See north India Jan-Mar rainfall at 86% of long-period average 
--IMD: See northwest India Jan-Mar rainfall at 86% of long-period average 
--IMD: See below-normal rains in northwest, northeast, south India in Jan-Mar 
--IMD: See above-normal rains in parts of central India, UP in Jan-Mar

 

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI – India is likely to see a normal rainfall in January, with most regions expected to receive 82-118% of the long-period average, the India Meteorological Department said at a press conference Thursday. The long-period average rainfall in January, based on data from 1971 to 2020, is 17.1 millimetres, it added.

 

Rainfall in northwest India, including major wheat-growing states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, is seen normal at 78-122% of the long-period average in January. "However, below-normal rainfall may occur in parts of northwest, east, and northeast India, as well as in a few localised areas of the peninsular and central Indian regions," IMD said.

 

IMD has forecast minimum temperatures to be below normal over most parts of the country in January. However, some parts of northwest, northeast, and south India may experience above-normal temperatures in the month, it added. 

 

Meanwhile, the maximum temperatures are also forecast to stay below normal over many parts of the country in January. "However, normal to above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of Northwest and Northeast India, and some parts of central India," IMD said.

 

Temperature during the grain-filling stage is critical for the wheat crop as prolonged above-normal temperatures or warmer winters reduce the kernel size and lower the yield. 

 

IMD said above normal cold wave days are expected in some areas of central India, east Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar in January. IMD considers a cold wave event when the minimum temperature drops below the daily minimum for three consecutive days.

 

JAN-MAR FORECASTS

For the next three months, IMD has forecast below normal rainfall across the country at 88% of the long-period average. Rainfall in northwest India is seen below normal at 86% of the long-period average. 

 

"Below-normal seasonal rainfall is expected across most parts of Northwest, Northeast, and Peninsular India, while above-normal rainfall is likely in some regions of Central India and Uttar Pradesh," IMD said. 

 

IMD said the prevailing La Nina conditions are expected to persist for another month or two before transitioning to El Nino-Southern Oscillation neutral conditions during Jan-Mar. IMD did not issue temperature forecasts for Jan-Mar but said above-normal cold wave days are expected in some areas of central India, east Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar in January. 

 

India witnessed several extreme weather events in 2025. Heavy rainfall and floods reportedly claimed more than 1,370 lives in 2025. Thunderstorm and lightning incidents also caused deaths of over 1,310 people while heatwave conditions accounted for more than 35 fatalities, IMD said. 

 

Meanwhile, 2025 was the eighth-warmest year on record since 1901. The warmest year on record was 2024, IMD said. 

 

On December rainfall, IMD said all-India rainfall was 4.9 millimetres, nearly 69?low the normal. "This is the lowest since 2001 and fifth lowest since 1901," Director General of Meteorology Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said. 

 

Central India recorded no rainfall in December--against the normal of 5.1 millimetres for the month--which the IMD said was the lowest since 1901. Rainfall in east and northeast India was reported 95.2?low normal rains. Rains in northwest India and south India was also scanty in December as it fell 84.8% and 37.3?low the normal, respectively.  End

 

Reported by Afra Abubacker and Taniva Singha Roy

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

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