Winter 2025 in NCR: As November approaches, people often wonder what kind of winter to expect. Will it be normal, or unusually severe? Predictions for this winter appear uncertain, as top weather experts have already warned about La Niña, a climatic phenomenon known for reshaping weather patterns worldwide. Experts say it could return later this year and bring a colder-than-usual season to India. So, will Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad face an unusually cold season?
US climate prediction in September
Winter 2025 in NCR: On 11 September, the US Climate Prediction Centre issued a La Niña Watch. It said that there is a 71% chance of La Niña forming between October and December 2025. The chance drops slightly to 54% for the period from December 2025 to February 2026, but the alert is still in effect.
What is La Niña? How is it related to India?
La Niña is the cooler phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It occurs when the surface of the Pacific Ocean near the equator becomes colder than usual. Even though it happens far away, it affects the weather all over the world, changing rainfall in the Americas and causing cold waves in Asia. In India, La Niña winters usually bring more frost, stronger cold waves, and extra snowfall in the northern regions.
According to an Economic Times report in September, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has suggested that La Niña might occur. Currently, conditions are neutral. However, IMD’s models indicate that La Niña could develop after the monsoon season.
The report also suggests that A 2024 study by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, along with Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, has found strong links between La Niña and severe cold waves in north India.
What is the Current situation in India?
There are also reports that daytime temperatures in winter are likely to stay normal to slightly below normal. Nighttime temperatures will generally stay above normal, except in some areas of northwest India, like Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan, where nights may be colder. A latest update on this can be expected soon.
When can we expect a severe winter?
The phenomenon is expected to start around late November to early December, when night temperatures may fall. From mid-December to mid-February, North India could experience the peak of winter with the highest chances of cold waves. Some experts say January 2026 may be the coldest month.
