The Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) Lucknow centre has issued a stern 'cold day' warning for approximately 40 districts across Uttar Pradesh. Simultaneously, it has sounded an 'orange alert' for 'very dense fog' in 25 districts, with the severe weather spell predicted to persist until at least January 8.
What Defines a 'Cold Day' and the Current Conditions
According to the IMD's classification, a 'cold day' is declared in plains regions when the minimum temperature drops to 10 degrees Celsius or lower and the maximum temperature is between 4.5 and 6.4 degrees Celsius below the normal range. For hilly areas, the threshold is 0 degrees Celsius or less.
Weather experts attribute the intense chill to the influence of cold, dry north-westerly and westerly winds blowing into the state from the snow-clad Himalayan regions. This followed the passage of a western disturbance around January 4, triggering a significant statewide plunge in minimum temperatures.
"Dense to very dense fog prevailing in the state, coupled with delayed or absent sunshine, has led to 'cold day' conditions in and around the central parts of the state," the experts explained. They added that this intense cold spell is likely to continue without major change until January 8. A brief improvement is expected thereafter due to reduced fog density and a slight temperature rise.
Districts Under Orange Alert and State Response
The IMD's orange alert for very dense fog covers at least the next two days for a long list of districts. These include Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Kanpur, Kanpur Dehat, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, and Ayodhya.
The list also extends to Ambedkarnagar, Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, and key Bundelkhand region districts like Jhansi, Jalaun, and Hamirpur.
In response to the freezing conditions, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed all District Magistrates to implement immediate relief measures. He has ordered arrangements for public bonfires, night shelters (rain baseras), and blanket distribution for the poor across all districts.
"As a preventive measure to safeguard against cold wave conditions, district administrations in the entire state have been directed to establish multiple rain baseras, undertake blanket distribution and also make arrangement for bonfires in the public places," stated Adityanath. The CM personally inspected two such shelters in Gorakhpur on Wednesday.
On-Ground Relief Efforts Activated
Detailing the efforts, the Chief Minister noted that the Gorakhpur district administration alone has opened 19 shelters with a capacity to accommodate roughly 1,000 people. He emphasized the directive to all districts to open shelters as needed to ensure no one is forced to sleep on footpaths in the bitter cold.
The state machinery is now on alert, combining meteorological warnings with administrative action to mitigate the impact of this prolonged cold wave on Uttar Pradesh's residents, particularly its most vulnerable populations.
