AGARTALA | Tripura residents may have to wait another five to seven days for the seasonal winter chill, with a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal keeping temperatures above normal and raising the possibility of isolated light rainfall across parts of the state.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), temperatures are expected to gradually return to near-normal levels as the weather system weakens.

IMD scientist Partha Roy said the prevailing warm conditions were linked to the cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal. Although the system is not expected to directly affect Tripura, its outer rain bands could bring light showers to some areas over the next few days.

The IMD forecast isolated light rainfall in South Tripura, Gomati, Sepahijala and North Tripura on October 27. Similar conditions may persist at one or two places in each district on October 28 and 29.

The weather system is expected to make landfall near Visakhapatnam on October 28. However, Tripura is far from the anticipated landfall area, and no weather warning has been issued for the state.

Roy said the maximum temperature in Tripura was hovering around 34-35°C, considerably higher than the normal level of approximately 31°C for this period. Such rises in temperature are commonly observed when cyclonic systems or circulations develop over the Bay of Bengal, he explained.

The above-normal temperatures have delayed the seasonal transition to cooler weather, leaving residents waiting for the usual decline in temperatures associated with the onset of winter.

The IMD expects the influence of the weather system to diminish over the next five to seven days, allowing temperatures to gradually settle closer to seasonal averages.

For now, the forecast suggests that any rainfall in Tripura will remain light and localised, while the return of cooler conditions will depend on the weakening of the Bay of Bengal system.