A prolonged cold wave continues to impact large parts of India, with icy winds, dense fog, and snowfall in the Himalayan region pushing temperatures sharply lower across the northern plains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple alerts warning of severe winter conditions, including cold waves, frost, snowfall, and poor visibility over the coming days.
On January 7, the IMD flagged cold wave conditions across several states, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Odisha, western Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. The situation remains grim across northern India as winter tightens its hold.
Snowfall In Himalayas Worsens Cold In Plains
Fresh snowfall is expected in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, adding to already freezing conditions. Snow-covered mountains are intensifying cold air movement toward the plains, leading to sharp drops in night temperatures and persistent fog across low-lying areas.
Delhi and adjoining regions remain trapped under thick fog and biting cold, despite brief spells of sunshine. While the capital saw marginal improvement in daytime temperatures over the past 24 hours, the relief has been short-lived. The IMD has warned that severe cold conditions will continue in Delhi for the next two days, with maximum temperatures hovering around 15°C and minimums dipping close to 6°C.
Dense Fog And Extreme Cold In Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
Uttar Pradesh continues to bear the brunt of extreme winter conditions, aggravated by westerly winds associated with a western disturbance. Temperatures have fallen to as low as 2.6°C in several districts. On Tuesday morning, dense fog enveloped around 40 districts, including Kanpur, Barabanki, Gonda, and Bahraich.
A heavy fog alert remains in place, with visibility expected to drop to zero in many locations. Forecasts indicate visibility ranging between zero and 100 metres across both eastern and western districts. Winds blowing at speeds of 10–15 km/h are likely to make conditions even harsher.
Bihar is also experiencing severe cold, with the IMD predicting cold day conditions in districts such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Saharsa, and Gaya until January 10. Relief from the cold spell is not expected in the immediate future.
Frost, Fog And “Very Poor” Air In North India
Uttarakhand is witnessing largely dry weather, though light snowfall has been reported in high-altitude areas like Kedarnath. Dense fog continues to affect the plains, while a yellow alert has been issued for frost in mountainous regions.
Delhi-NCR is facing a combination of severe cold day conditions and deteriorating air quality, which remains in the “very poor” category. The IMD has warned that cold wave conditions across Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh will persist at least until Wednesday.
South Sees Unseasonal Rainfall Alert
While the north battles extreme cold, southern India is likely to experience unusual weather activity. The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Mahe around January 9 and 10, highlighting contrasting weather patterns across the country.
