India, Feb. 20 -- The short answer to the question is that winter is almost over. However, the short answer needs a lengthy explanation as of now. Part of this is because nights are still cool enough. Another reason is that temperature trends are hardly uniform across a country as large as India. This means that while some places may still be feeling somewhat cool, others are already far ahead of usual winter temperatures.

How does one check whether winter is over or how far ahead temperatures are currently of the usual winter temperatures? By comparing it with usual winter temperatures, which the India Meteorological Department (IMD), considers as the December-February period. The IMD considers this period winter because the normal temp...