Page 2 - Winter

Beijing sees most hours of sub-freezing temperatures in December since 1951

Beijing recorded the most hours of sub-freezing temperatures in December in more than seven decades as a cold wave has enveloped northern and central swathes of China, bringing snowstorms and record-breaking temperatures. A weather observatory in the Chinese capital as of Sunday had recorded more than 300 hours of sub-freezing temperatures since December 11 the most since records began, in 1951, according to the official newspaper Beijing Daily. The city saw nine consecutive days with temperatures below minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), the paper added. Parts of northern and central China have shivered under frigid cold snaps this month, with authorities closing schools and highways several times due to snowstorms. Temperatures at 78 weather stations across the country hit record lows for the month of December, while average temperatures this month in northern and some central parts of China hit record lows set in 1961, according to the National Meteorological Cent

Winter Solstice 2023: Know more about why Dec 21 is longest night of year

The time of year when the Earth's axial tilt is farthest from the sun is known as the winter solstice. This also denotes the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launches maiden Indian Winter Arctic Expedition

Speaking on the occasion, Rijiju said that it will be interesting to see how the first batch of four researchers will function there in winter

UN agency warns of Afghans dying in winter if they don't get proper shelter

The UN refugee agency has warned that Afghans could die in harsh winter conditions if they don't get adequate shelter once they cross the border from Pakistan. Almost half a million Afghans have left Pakistan since early October, when the Islamabad government announced it would arrest and deport foreigners it said were in the country illegally. The overwhelming majority of them are from neighboring Afghanistan, though Islamabad insists the policy doesn't target a specific nationality. The forced returns are piling pressure on Afghanistan and aid agencies, which are providing the bulk of essential services like health care. Freezing temperatures are setting in and conditions at the border remain dire. Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children, who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter, the U.N. refugee agency said in a report published Friday. People arriving at the border are exhausted and require urgent assistance as well

LIVE: INDIA bloc to meet on Dec 19, to work on 'Main Nahin, Hum' motto

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Scientists predict warm winter, say surface temperatures may set records

Researchers have found that there is a 95 per cent chance of global average surface temperatures setting new historical records during the 2023-24 winter. The researchers at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, also said that regions in the mid-low latitudes of Eurasia and most parts of the Americas were likely to experience an exceptionally warm winter. They have attributed these likely outcomes to an imminent maturity of a moderate to strong Eastern Pacific El Nino during the upcoming northern hemisphere winter. This strong El Nino event is poised to trigger anomalous anticyclone activity in the Northwest Pacific, thereby influencing the winter climates of East Asia and North America, the researchers said in their study published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. They have also predicted surface temperatures in China to be more than double the usual temperatures, potentially setting the highest winter temperature record since ..

Winter in India may be less severe this year due to El Nino, says IMD

India's avg max and min temperatures in November third highest since 1901

Half of US is at risk of losing power during extreme cold, say officials

Regional system operators in a vast swath of the country stretching from Texas to New England are "at risk of insufficient electricity supplies during peak winter conditions,"

Winter Travel: Destinations, tips and safety measures for travellers

Whether you take a flight or travel by road, some safety tips for winter travel can be extremely handy. The people who are driving must make sure to read these tips for managing the issues in winter

Tea Board orders closure of manufacturing units during winter in North

The Tea Board has ordered the closure of manufacturing units in the tea growing areas in North India during winter for a better crop in the first flush of next year. As per the Board's order, the last date for plucking or receiving green leaves for all tea factories in Darjeeling, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand has been put at December 11. While that for Dooars and Terai regions of West Bengal, and Bihar is December 23. The last date for processing of green leaf at the factories in Darjeeling, Sikkim, HP and Uttarakhand has been put at December 13, while that for Terai, Dooars and Bihar is December 26. The order also said that the last date of completion of sorting, packing and moving the packed teas to notified storage areas with invoice marking has been decided to be on December 26 for Darjeeling, Sikkim, HP and Uttarakhand. For Dooars, Terai and Bihar, it is January 6, 2024, for CTC variety and January 11 for the orthodox and green tea varieties. According to the tea

Brazil's firefighters battle wildfires raging during late-winter heat wave

Firefighters were battling flames in Brazil's northeastern Bahia state, fanned by strong winds and abnormally high temperatures for the season, authorities said. While it is still technically winter in Brazil, with spring due to start in a couple of days, a heat wave prompting record temperatures has swept across much of the country since the beginning of the week. Faced with a growing number of hot spots caused by high temperatures, Bahia's association of forestry-based companies this week launched a campaign to prevent and combat wildfires. State authorities said they have mobilised over 150 military firefighters to put out fires in different areas across the state, as well as in Chapada Diamantina, a national park known for its panoramic views. The Instagram account of Bahia's secretary for public security showed images of firefighters making their way through parched forests, equipped in high-visibility orange gear and helmets, attempting to bring the licking flames under ...

As winter looms, global diesel market is already pricing in a scarcity

The good news is that the market looked even worse this time last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine - and prices ultimately came down, helped by a relatively mild winter

With winter on retreat, max daytime temperature rising across North India

No rainfall is expected in the North Indian belt over the next few days, the IMD said, adding that a minimum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius was recorded on Sunday

Freezing weather in decade's 'coldest winter' kills 124 in Afghanistan

Akhund said the forecast for the next 10 days indicated temperatures would warm. But he was still worried about a rising death toll of Afghans, and their livestock

Coldest day of season grips S Korea; Seoul records minus 25.5 degrees C

The lowest apparent temperature for Seoul was minus 25.5 degrees, while that of Cheorwon was minus 39.3 degrees

Retailers shrug off winter chill to see double-digit growth in yr-end sales

Footfalls have also witnessed an increase at both malls and retail outlets

LIVE: Rain, hailstorm predicted to lash NW India, Delhi next week, says IMD

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Cold wave conditions prevail in Delhi, minimum temp recorded at 2.4 Deg C

At least 15 trains were delayed by one hour to eight hours due to foggy weather, a spokesperson of the Northern Railways said

Haryana govt extends schools' winter holidays till Jan 21 due to cold wave

The notice, however, said that classes will continue to be held for students of Class 10 and 12, who have to appear in their board examinations

Partly cloudy sky in Delhi, maximum temperature settles above normal

A fresh spell of cold wave is likely to prevail in and around Delhi from Sunday, the weather office said