Weather update: Cold wave, dense fog to persist in north India till Jan 11

Dense fog and cold wave conditions are likely to continue in Delhi and parts of north India, with the IMD forecasting further dips in minimum temperatures and extended foggy conditions through Jan 11

Cold wave and dense fog conditions are set to persist across large parts of north, central and eastern India over the coming days. The minimum temperatures are expected to fall further in several regions, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

 

The weather office said there would be no significant change in minimum temperatures over northwest India over the next two days, followed by a gradual decline of 2–3 degrees Celsius during the subsequent two days. Temperatures are likely to stabilise thereafter. In central and eastern India, minimum temperatures are expected to fall gradually by 2–4 degrees Celsius over the next three days, with no major change anticipated over the following four days.

 

Over Maharashtra, minimum temperatures are likely to remain largely unchanged over the next 24 hours before declining by 2–3 degrees Celsius during the subsequent four days. In contrast, Gujarat may see a gradual rise of 2–3 degrees Celsius in night temperatures over the next five days, after which conditions are expected to remain steady. No significant change in minimum temperatures is forecast for the remaining parts of the country.

 

Dense fog to persist

 

The IMD has issued a series of dense fog warnings, with northern states likely to be the worst affected. Dense to very dense fog is very likely to continue during night and morning hours at some places over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh till January 7, and over east Uttar Pradesh till January 8.

 

Isolated dense fog conditions are expected over west Uttar Pradesh till January 5, and over Madhya Pradesh and Odisha till January 6. Foggy conditions are also likely in pockets across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand till January 9, while parts of Punjab, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Chandigarh may continue to experience reduced visibility till January 11.

 

Several eastern and northeastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, are expected to witness dense fog conditions till January 7.

 

Cold day and cold wave warnings issued

 

Cold day conditions are very likely at isolated pockets over Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, west Madhya Pradesh and Bihar on January 5, while cold wave conditions are forecast over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh between January 5 and 8.

 

Parts of west Rajasthan are likely to remain under cold wave conditions till January 9, while east Rajasthan may experience similar conditions till January 10. Jharkhand may also witness cold wave conditions on January 6 and 7.

 

The IMD has advised people to take precautions against prolonged exposure to cold and fog, particularly during early morning and late-night hours. Commuters have also been cautioned about reduced visibility, which may disrupt road, rail and air travel in several regions over the coming days.