Bengaluru: The New Year began with a cold wave that swept Karnataka as the temperature plummeted throughout the state. The people of north Karnataka in particular, shivered under low temperatures. Bidar district in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region reported an all-time low temperature of six degrees Celsius. 

Similarly, Vijayapura also reported 8.5 degrees Celsius and the Mumbai-Karnataka region Dharwad reported 9.8 degrees Celsius. According to weather experts, this condition is likely to persist throughout January.

According to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNMDC), the 920 weather stations installed in Karnataka have shown a dip in temperature and it is likely to continue through January.

"The cold concentrated region in north India and adjoining areas of Telangana and Maharashtra is pushing the winds down to the south, causing the dip in temperature in the Hyderabad-Karnataka and the Mumbai-Karnataka regions. Bidar reported a record temperature of 6 degrees Celsius surpassing 6.2 degrees recorded on January 9, 1967. If there is a dip in temperature of three to five degrees Celsius for five days, the particular region is considered to be hit by a cold wave," said Srinivas Reddy, director, KSNMDC.

Apart from Bidar, places in north Karnataka like Vijayapura reported 8.5 degrees Celsius. Dharwad reported 9.8, Haveri 10.2, Kalaburgi 10.7, Gadag 11.8, and Belagavi 21.5 degrees Celsius. 

Few districts in South Karnataka such as Hassan with 10.6, Madikeri 11.3, Shivamogga 11.6 and Davanagere 11.8 degrees Celsius also felt the dip in temperature.