Winter sets in early, to stay longer this year

Misty mornings and evenings indicate the onset of winter in the city. The weather office is predicting a prolonged winter this time.

The India Meteorological Department on Friday attributed the early winter to the delayed arrival of the north-east monsoon.

Late by about 20 days, the north-east monsoon is expected in a week.

Systems are forming in south-west Bay of Bengal, indicating that the south-west monsoon is moving away, said L Ramesh Babu, director in charge, India Meteorological Department, Bengaluru.

Fog or mist is occurring in the mornings and evenings. A clear sky is helping temperatures dip as evening falls, he said.

Chilling out

The minimum temperature in Bengaluru is already a degree lower than normal, the weather office said.

On Thursday, the minimum temperature was 20.4 degrees Celsius, 1.4 degree below normal.