Fans are on! Why is it feeling like 31 degrees in Silchar in December?

Residents of Silchar and its neighboring areas are experiencing an unusual twist in the typical December weather, with temperatures soaring higher than expected. Instead of the customary sweater weather and hot tea, locals find themselves seeking relief under fans due to uncharacteristically warm temperatures.

Throughout this December, the mercury has hovered between 25°C to 31°C, a departure from the anticipated cooler climate. Even the lowest recorded temperature, 11°C for a brief period, failed to bring the expected chill, leaving the populace surprised by the warmth persisting throughout the month.

Weather forecasts for January indicate a continuation of these unexpected temperatures, adding to the perplexity of the situation. To shed light on this climatic anomaly, we reached out to Professor Parthankar Choudhury of the Ecology Department at Assam University.

Professor Choudhury acknowledged the atypical conditions but emphasized the importance of considering the lowest temperatures during winter. He noted that while the temperature did dip to 11°C a few days ago, it hasn’t returned to those levels since, highlighting the year-to-year fluctuations in temperature.

Despite the unusual warmth, Professor Choudhury did not pinpoint a specific cause for this deviation from the norm. Comparisons were drawn with places like Delhi, where cold weather prevails during this season, emphasizing the unique situation faced by Silchar this year.

Expressing the town’s ill-fortune in experiencing such warmth during December, Professor Choudhury underscored the unpredictability of yearly temperature variations. He concluded that, unfortunately, residents have little control over these natural fluctuations and must adapt to the unexpected warmth.

On December 28, last year, the temperature in Silchar was notably lower, around 20°C. In stark contrast, this year, it has risen to 27°C on the same date. The visible temperature increase prompts the need for a thorough investigation into its cause. It is imperative to explore the possibility of a recurring rise in temperature next year, underscoring the importance of identifying the cause and seeking proactive solutions.