Rainfall expected in coming days; temperature set to drop by Jan 7

GANGTOK: As per the Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) convention, January and February are typically considered winter months across India. However, in hilly regions like Gangtok, winter begins much earlier, often by the end of October.

IMD Gangtok head Gopinath Raha confirmed that January is traditionally the coldest month for the region. Currently, temperatures in Gangtok are dipping to 6°C at night and 8°C during the day, a notable decrease compared to the past few years.

While the weather is expected to remain relatively consistent in the coming days, a significant shift is expected by the night of January 6. According to Raha, the region will begin experiencing rainfall, triggered by snowfall in North Sikkim. Gangtok and other parts of the State are likely to face light to moderate rain on January 7 and 8, with temperatures set to decrease further due to the weather changes. Snowfall in North Sikkim over the past few days has contributed to the chill in the region.

This year, Sikkim has experienced its lowest average temperatures since 2019, as per the IMD. The temperature patterns are expected to continue fluctuating, influenced by western disturbances that could bring additional snowfall and rainfall.

Gangtok also recently recorded its longest dry spell from December 8 to 31, spanning 24 days.

Raha also noted that June 2024 was the wettest month of the year for the region, with a 66% departure from the long-term average rainfall. Meanwhile, the highest temperature recorded in Gangtok was 26.8°C on both May 26 and September 23.