A severe chill continues to dominate large swathes of India as cold wave conditions and dense fog tighten their grip on the northern and eastern regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the current cold spell, accompanied by foggy mornings, will persist over the coming days, impacting daily life in several states.
According to the latest meteorological data, cold wave conditions are likely to prevail in isolated pockets of Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, East Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. Simultaneously, residents in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Sikkim are bracing for ‘cold day’ conditions, where daytime temperatures struggle to rise significantly.
Etawah Records Lowest Temperature
The intensity of the winter is evident in the plunging mercury levels across the plains. Etawah in Uttar Pradesh recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the plains at a shivering 2.4°C. Across wider regions of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and north Chhattisgarh, minimum temperatures are hovering between 5°C and 10°C, keeping the cold severe.
In the higher altitudes of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the mercury has already dipped below the freezing point. Uttarakhand is also expecting ground frost at isolated locations, adding to the wintry challenges.
Dense Fog Disrupts Visibility
Commuters in North India face potential disruptions as dense to very dense fog is forecast during morning hours. The IMD has flagged East Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab for low visibility conditions.
Foggy weather is also expected to extend to parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, and eastern states including Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim.
Rainfall in South and Himalayas
While the north freezes, parts of southern India and the Himalayas are witnessing precipitation. Light to moderate rain or snowfall is likely in the hill states of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
In the south, heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places in Tamil Nadu and Kerala & Mahe. These showers may be accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Interestingly, despite the winter chill elsewhere, Kottayam in Kerala recorded the highest maximum temperature in the country at 35°C.
Marine Warning
The weather department has also issued a warning for sea areas. Strong winds are expected over parts of the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mannar. Wind speeds could reach 35–45 kmph with higher gusts, prompting caution for those in coastal regions.
The overall weather outlook suggests that while cold wave and fog conditions will dominate northern and eastern states, the western Himalayan region and parts of southern India will continue to see rainfall activity over the next few days.
