Gurgaon Wakes Up to Thick Fog and Biting Cold
People in Gurgaon started their Thursday wrapped in a heavy blanket of fog. The dense mist cut visibility down to less than fifty meters in many parts of the city. Sunshine struggled to break through, finally appearing around half past eleven in the morning.
Temperature Readings and Weather Patterns
The morning brought a minimum temperature of 5.3 degrees Celsius. This reading was actually 1.8 degrees higher than the day before. However, the maximum temperature for the day settled at 18.2 degrees, which was 0.2 degrees lower than Wednesday's high.
Weather officials confirmed that cold wave to severe cold wave conditions were noted at isolated spots. They expect these chilly conditions to stick around for the next several days. The reason lies in the winter systems currently active over northwest India.
IMD's Detailed Forecast and Explanation
The India Meteorological Department provided a clear picture of the situation. A subtropical westerly jet stream is prevailing over northwest India. This stream has core winds of about 125 knots at an altitude of 12.6 kilometers above sea level. It is influencing the winter weather across the entire region.
Furthermore, a western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India starting January 19th. This system may bring a brief period of precipitation. For Haryana, the forecast predicts dry weather from January 15th to 17th. Light rainfall is possible at isolated places from January 18th to 20th, followed by a return to dry conditions.
The IMD stated that no significant change in minimum temperatures is expected in the next twenty-four hours. However, night temperatures could rise by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius over the following four days. Dense fog is likely to persist in parts of the state throughout the week. Forecasts indicate dense fog at isolated places from January 17th onwards, even as the severe cold gradually eases.
Travel Advisory and Health Warnings
Authorities advised residents to exercise caution during early morning travel. Low visibility continues to affect highways and major roads connecting Gurgaon with Delhi and other NCR areas.
Doctors are raising serious health concerns related to the cold and fog. Dr. P Venkata Krishnan, a senior consultant and director of internal medicine at Narayana Hospital, explained the risks.
"Dense fog and cold weather might seem like simple seasonal nuisances, but they quietly increase health dangers," he said. "When temperatures drop, blood vessels constrict. This natural reaction helps conserve body heat, but it also raises blood pressure and forces the heart to work harder."
He emphasized that for individuals with existing heart conditions, high blood pressure, or diabetes, this extra strain can elevate the risk of chest pain, irregular heartbeats, or even heart attacks. The dense fog adds another problem by trapping pollutants and fine particles close to the ground.
Dr. Krishnan added that cold weather often leads to reduced physical activity, irregular daily routines, and lower water intake. All these factors can increase health risks.
"Hydration becomes a silent issue," he noted. "Cold weather dulls our sense of thirst, so people tend to drink less water. This can slightly thicken the blood and raise the risk of clot formation, especially in older adults. Staying warm, avoiding strenuous activity in the early morning, drinking enough fluids, and paying attention to subtle symptoms can make winter much safer for our bodies."
