Winters in Rajasthan are becoming warmer and shorter. During the winter season spanning November-December 2025 and the first three months of 2026, the region received far less rainfall than is typical for this time of year. Cold wave days have also declined.
Under normal conditions, Rajasthan experiences around five to six active Western Disturbances — weather systems that bring winter rain and help intensify the cold. This year, however, only two or three such disturbances were recorded, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The consequences are already visible. The growing number of warmer days during winter is affecting daily life as well as agricultural cycles. For sheep-rearers, the seasonal rhythm has been disrupted. The end of winter is usually when sheep are sheared, but fluctuating temperatures are creating new risks.
Animals that have already been sheared are developing pneumonia due to cold nights, while those yet to be sheared are falling ill because of unusually warm days.
According to a local resident, the intense cold lasted barely 20 to 25 days, ending by mid-January. The ground turned white, as if someone had sprinkled salt over it. The cold scorched Khejri and Ker trees. But immediately after Sankranti, the cold vanished, and now temperatures are hovering around 40 degrees Celsius (°C).
In the desert, years with low rainfall used to bring harsher winters, because dry soil loses heat quickly. But even 10 years ago, days during winter would still feel cool despite sunshine. Now, you begin to feel heat even in winter afternoons.
He also points to a shift in wind patterns. “Typically, north-westerly winds would sweep across the desert during this season. This time, those moisture-laden winds did not arrive. That directly affected crops.”