The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially declared the arrival of peak winter, issuing a series of severe weather alerts for a large swathe of the country. The national weather forecaster has predicted cold wave to severe cold day conditions, snowfall, and dense fog impacting several states, with disruptions already being felt in the national capital.
State-Wise Alerts: Snow, Cold Waves, and Dense Fog
According to the latest IMD bulletin, the weather patterns are being significantly influenced by a Western Disturbance. This system is expected to cause snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir until 1st January. Simultaneously, states across northern and central India are bracing for intense cold.
Bihar is under a warning for “cold day to severe cold day conditions” on 31st December, while Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have been placed on cold day alert until New Year's Day. The IMD has specifically forecast cold wave conditions in isolated pockets of several regions on the following dates:
- East Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh until 31st December.
- West Rajasthan on 2nd & 3rd January.
- Himachal Pradesh from 31st December to 3rd January.
- Telangana and North Interior Karnataka until 1st January.
Adding to travel woes, the weather office has forecast dense to very dense fog over northern and north-eastern states. Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and West Uttar Pradesh are likely to experience these conditions during night and morning hours until 1st January. Similar foggy conditions are predicted for East Uttar Pradesh and Odisha until 2nd January.
Delhi's Weather: Relief from Dry Spell but Fog Persists
The national capital, Delhi, is set for a change in weather as the New Year approaches. The IMD predicts that a “Subtropical westerly Jet Stream” prevailing over the region will break a two-month-long dry spell. The forecast for 31st December and 1st January is a partly cloudy sky, though a yellow alert for a cold wave remains in effect for today.
On Wednesday, temperatures in Delhi were above normal, with minimums ranging 0.2°C to 2.2°C higher and maximums 0.6°C to 2.6°C above the average. Looking ahead, the IMD has predicted foggy conditions to continue until 5th January. During this six-day period, maximum temperatures are likely to range between 18 to 23 degrees Celsius, while minimums will hover between 7 to 12 degrees Celsius.
The regional meteorological department adjusted its fog warnings, lifting the red alert at 8:30 AM on Wednesday and issuing an orange alert instead.
Travel Disruptions and Flight Cancellations
The immediate impact of the dense fog has been severe on air travel. Nearly 148 flights were cancelled at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Wednesday due to low visibility conditions. An official informed ANI that out of the approximately 1,300 daily flight movements, 78 arrivals and 70 departures were axed.
As the cold wave tightens its grip and fog continues to blanket the northern plains, authorities are advising citizens to take necessary precautions, stay updated with the latest IMD bulletins, and check flight statuses before travelling. The weather agency's warnings highlight a challenging start to the New Year for much of North and Central India.
