North India Gears Up for Harsh Winter

La Niña Makes a Comeback
North India Gears Up for Harsh Winter

La nina makes a return. Northern parts brace for a chilly winter season

La Niña has officially returned, signalling a colder-than-usual winter for North India.

The phenomenon, marked by cooling in the central Pacific Ocean, often brings intense cold waves, fog, and below-normal temperatures across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

What is La Niña?

La Niña is a climate pattern where Pacific Ocean waters become cooler than normal, strengthening trade winds. In India, it usually brings heavier monsoon rains, better crop yields, and cooler winters, but can also cause flooding in some regions. Overall, La Niña makes India’s weather wetter and cooler than average.

Experts say this year’s La Niña could persist through early 2026, strengthening winter conditions.

Combined with other oceanic factors like the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), weather patterns may see sharper temperature contrasts and stronger western disturbances.

Residents are advised to prepare for a nippy, extended winter season ahead.

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