With discernible changes in weather across different regions, Indian states are beginning to exhibit the onset of winter. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that foggy mornings are occurring in the northern regions of the country, which include Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. In addition, both the minimum and maximum temperatures have gradually decreased.

According to the IMD, sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial region are below average, and neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions persist over the equatorial Pacific despite a delayed winter. La Niña may also make an appearance during the post-monsoon season, according to recent models.
La Niña, which means "Little Girl" in Spanish, is usually linked to equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures that are lower than normal, which frequently leads to harsher winters. Usually intensifying from October to February, the phenomenon may result in harsher winters and more rainfall, which could have an impact on agriculture, especially in areas where winter crops are essential.

But La Niña is predicted to be abnormally weak this year. Climate change has already caused temperatures to rise, which has made it impossible for the La Niña anomaly to persist, according to OP Sreejith, head of climate monitoring at IMD. India may experience a warmer winter than usual as a result of this mild intensity, particularly in the northern areas.
La Niña can only be officially confirmed if the Oceanic Niño Index consistently drops to at least -0.5°C, a threshold that has not been met so far this year. Forecasts from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had initially predicted a clearer shift to La Niña by mid-year, but these forecasts have proven inaccurate. As NOAA described in its latest blog, this "spooky weather" reflects the growing difficulty in predicting precise ENSO patterns amid shifting climate dynamics.