Bhubaneswar: A severe cold wave is sweeping through several parts of Odisha. Is it a cold wave? Or is it a severe cold wave? How does the Meteorological office decide? Here’s the science behind it:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declares a cold wave when the minimum (night) temperature dips ‘to or below’…
* 10 degrees Celsius in the plains
* 15 degrees Celsius in coastal areas
* 0 degrees Celsius in hilly areas
But it’s not a cold wave or severe cold wave yet. The IMD declares a cold wave or severe cold wave only when…
Cold wave (hilly areas): Minimum temperature recorded is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius below normal.
Severe cold wave (hilly areas): Minimum temperature recorded is 6.5 degrees Celsius below normal.
Cold wave (plains): Minimum temperature recorded is 4 degrees Celsius below normal.
Severe cold wave (plains): Minimum temperature recorded is 2 degrees Celsius below normal.
Cold day
A cold day is declared when the maximum (day) temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius in the plains and 0 degrees Celsius in hilly areas, and the following condition is met:
Plains: The maximum temperature recorded is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius below normal
Hilly areas: The maximum temperature recorded is 6.5 degrees Celsius below normal
