North India may get below-normal rain

03-Jan-2026

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Southern and central India are expected to witness good rainfall from January to March, while the northwest region comprising Punjab and Haryana is likely to get below-normal showers, the weather office said on Jan 1.

However, the mixed rain forecast was unlikely to have an impact over the rabi crop as the northwestern parts of the country are well irrigated and good monsoon rains have resulted in reservoirs being full, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), told a press conference in Delhi.

He said the northeast, parts of Bihar and Vidarbha will experience one to three days of additional cold days, while Rajasthan is expected to witness fewer cold days.