The cold wave has hit Tamil Nadu’s Ooty and turned it into an Iceland. The temperature has dropped below 2.5 °C with relative humidity recorded at 65 percent. Many areas surrounding Ooty also experienced frost.
The hilly district of Nilgiri experience frost annually from November to February, however, this time frost is observed during late January due to the stormy rains. Ooty and he surrounding cities including Kanthal, Pinker Post and Thalai Kuntha also experiences Icy plains.
The severe cold has disrupted the daily life of people. Many are unable to even come out of their homes due. Bonfires are being used to keep the warmth. The green lawns are covered with a white carpet, event he vehicles are covered under a thin layer of ice sheet. People living on the upper reaches of Tamil Nadu are unaccustomed to such severe dropping of temperature. It is almost impossible to leave the house.
Vast expanses of grasslands in the Nilgiris district resembled a magical realm, adorned with the glistening beauty of fresh dew drops commonly referred to as white frost, adorning the lush green carpet of grass. This enchanting phenomenon graced numerous areas of the well-known hill station, including Ooty Nagar, Thalikunda, HPF, Kanthal, and Fingerpost.
The mesmerizing spectacle extended to the extent that up to an inch of ice delicately blanketed parked vehicles, presenting a picturesque yet challenging scene for residents attempting to start their cars. The icy conditions led to complaints from locals grappling with difficulties igniting their vehicles.
Local meteorological (MeT) authorities highlighted substantial fluctuations in day and night temperatures over the past few weeks, with daytime temperatures consistently reaching above 25 degrees Celsius. This climatic variance likely contributed to the formation of the exquisite white frost, transforming the Nilgiris district into a wondrous winter wonderland.