Number Theory: Why Jan 2023 feels colder than last year

Large parts of north India are reeling under numbing cold with the mercury remaining below the freezing point at most places in Jammu and Kashmir. Is this winter really colder than what is normally the case? An HT analysis of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) gridded database can answer some of these questions.

Large parts of north India are facing a severe cold wave. Is this winter really colder than what is normally the case? Is it a harsher winter than what we had to experience last year? An HT analysis of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) gridded database can answer some of these questions.

A cold wave is declared in the region when the minimum temperature is 4.5 degrees or more below the normal mark, or when it drops to 4°C or lower. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

These two sets of numbers make it clear that this January so far has been colder than normal and is exceptionally cold during the day.

Delhi on the other hand is ranked 4th coldest just like India, while Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh are also experiencing their 5th-10th coldest January months.

In the first nine days of the year, it has rained in 15 of 32 states and union territories for which this calculation is possible using the IMD's gridded dataset.

For the period of winter up to this point, the low temperatures in January have not made the 2022-23 winter as exceptionally cold.