As India welcomes the New Year, a complex and challenging weather pattern is set to dominate the first week of 2026. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a detailed forecast warning of widespread dense fog, cold wave conditions, and significant rainfall and snowfall across various regions, which are expected to impact daily life and transportation networks.
Widespread Rainfall and Snowfall in Western Himalayas
The most active weather is predicted for the western Himalayan region. On January 1, 2026, the IMD bulletin forecasts fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and snowfall. States like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are likely to see scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate precipitation on both January 1 and 2.
While this fresh snowfall in the higher reaches could eventually benefit water reservoirs and boost winter tourism, it poses an immediate risk of temporary disruptions. Road connectivity in mountainous areas may be affected due to snow accumulation and potential landslides.
Persistent Dense Fog and Cold Wave Grips North and East India
A major concern for the plains is the persistence of dense to very dense fog over large swathes of north, east, and central India. The IMD has warned that these conditions will likely continue during night and morning hours in several states until January 5, with some areas affected until January 7.
Key areas under dense fog alert include:
- Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi (until Jan 5)
- East Uttar Pradesh (until Jan 2)
- West Rajasthan (until Jan 3)
- Isolated pockets in Himalayan states and Northeast (until Jan 5)
Visibility has already dropped alarmingly in many cities. Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, and Bareilly reported zero visibility, while Tezpur, Agartala, Gaya, and Khajuraho saw visibility reduced to just 50 metres. Major urban centres like Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, and Durgapur recorded visibility around 100 metres.
Accompanying the fog are severe cold conditions. Cold wave conditions are very likely over Himachal Pradesh and Telangana on January 1. Cold day conditions are expected over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Bihar on the same day. These harsh conditions are set to continue from January 2 to 4 in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, with Rajasthan experiencing a cold wave on January 5 and 6.
Rain in Plains and Thunderstorms in South
Beyond the hills and fog, other regions will also experience active weather. Isolated to scattered light rainfall is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, west Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi on January 1. This rain, though modest, could intensify the chill and contribute to fog formation.
In southern India, isolated thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) are forecast for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Tamil Nadu on January 1. A cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal is expected to support scattered to fairly widespread rainfall over Tamil Nadu and the Nicobar Islands for the subsequent three days.
Significant Impact on Transport and Aviation
The IMD bulletin explicitly warns that the prevailing dense fog will significantly impact transport and aviation services. Disruptions are anticipated on several highways, railway routes, and at airports across the affected regions. Commuters and travellers are strongly advised to remain alert, follow official travel advisories, and plan their journeys carefully, especially during the early morning and late-night hours when fog is at its peak.
The challenging weather scenario is attributed to a mix of meteorological factors, including western disturbances, cyclonic circulations, and jet stream activity, as outlined in the All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued on January 1, 2026.
