IMD Warns of Severe Winter Ahead as La Niña Intensifies

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of a severe winter this year, attributed to the onset of the La Niña phenomenon in September. 

La Niña, which typically emerges toward the end of the monsoon season, is known for causing a significant drop in temperatures and often increases rainfall. This raises concerns about the potential for an unusually harsh winter.

What is La Niña Phenomenon 

La Niña, meaning "the girl" in Spanish, is the climatic counterpart to El Niño. While El Niño, meaning "the little boy," involves weakened trade winds that push warmer waters eastward towards the Americas, La Niña features strong easterly winds that push ocean waters westward, cooling the surface of the equatorial Pacific.

This cooling effect contrasts sharply with the warming conditions of El Niño. Both La Niña and El Niño are crucial oceanic and atmospheric phenomena that generally begin between April and June and reach their peak between October and February. These events typically last from 9 to 12 months but can occasionally extend up to two years.

Under normal conditions, trade winds blow westward along the equator, transporting warm water from South America towards Asia and allowing cooler waters from the ocean depths to rise, maintaining climatic balance. However, La Niña disrupts this equilibrium, leading to various global climate impacts. While El Niño is associated with warmer Pacific temperatures and generally warmer global conditions, La Niña cools both the ocean surface and the atmosphere above it.

As La Niña develops, the IMD's warning about potential extreme winter conditions highlights the need for preparation for the possible weather challenges ahead.