Gangtok: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) observes January and February as winter months across India. However, in hilly regions like Gangtok, winter typically begins much earlier, often by the end of October.
According to Gopinath Raha, head of IMD Gangtok, January is traditionally the coldest month for the region. Currently, nighttime temperatures in Gangtok are dipping to 6°C, with daytime highs at 8°C—a notable decrease compared to the past few years.
While the weather is expected to remain relatively stable in the coming days, significant changes are anticipated from the night of January 6, 2025. Raha confirmed that the region would experience rainfall beginning then, triggered by snowfall in North Sikkim. Gangtok and other parts of the state are likely to receive light to moderate rain on January 7 and 8, with temperatures expected to drop further due to the weather shift. The recent snowfall in North Sikkim has already intensified the chill in the area.
This year, Sikkim has recorded its lowest average temperatures since 2019, according to the IMD. The temperature patterns are likely to continue fluctuating, driven by western disturbances that could bring additional snowfall and rainfall.
Gangtok recently experienced its longest dry spell, lasting from December 8 to December 31, a span of 24 days.
Raha also noted that June 2024 was the wettest month of the year for the region, with rainfall 66% above the long-term average. Meanwhile, the highest temperature recorded in Gangtok was 26.8°C, observed on both May 26 and September 23.
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