Odisha Shivers: Is It A Cold Wave? Is It A Severe Cold Wave? Know How IMD Decides

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