A severe and 'very dense' fog enveloped large parts of northern India on Tuesday, bringing daily life and travel to a grinding halt. The intense fog layer drastically reduced visibility, plunging it to zero at several major airports and sending temperatures sharply lower across the plains.
Travel Chaos and Hazardous Conditions
Early morning commuters and air travelers faced extremely dangerous conditions as the thick fog blanket descended. Visibility dropped to less than 50 meters in isolated areas of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that critical airports, including those in Amritsar, Bathinda, and Hawara, reported zero visibility during peak morning hours.
Similar 'whiteout' scenarios were recorded across the region. Key observations included Faridkot in Punjab (10 meters), Hisar (0 meters) and Ambala (10 meters) in Haryana, and Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh (30 meters). The hazardous conditions led to significant flight disruptions and road travel gridlocks.
The Big Chill: Temperature Tumble
Accompanying the fog was a pronounced dip in temperatures. The town of Gurdaspur in Punjab recorded the plains' lowest temperature at 5 degrees Celsius. While Punjab saw a minor average rise in minimum temperatures from Monday, neighboring Haryana experienced a further drop.
Forecasters have warned of a broader and 'gradual fall' of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius across Northwest India through Thursday as a cold front establishes itself. Other notable low recordings included Narnaul in Haryana at 5.5°C and several sub-5°C readings in parts of Himachal Pradesh, with temperatures falling 1-2°C daily.
Outlook: Extended Fog and Possible Snow Relief
The IMD has issued a weather alert valid through the end of the week. Dense fog is expected to persist in Punjab and Haryana until at least December 29, and in Himachal Pradesh until December 28. There is, however, a potential change on the horizon.
Meteorologists predict that a western disturbance could bring some relief from the dry cold spell. This system is forecast to bring scattered rain and snow to the hills of Himachal Pradesh over the weekend, specifically on December 28 and 29. This precipitation might temporarily improve visibility but will likely keep the region in the grip of cold conditions.
Authorities are advising citizens to exercise extreme caution while traveling, check flight and train schedules before departing, and take necessary precautions against the biting cold wave that is set to intensify over the next 48 hours.
