IMD Issues Warning for Severe Winter Conditions Across Northern Regions
The India Meteorological Department has released a detailed weather bulletin forecasting challenging winter conditions for large parts of north and northwest India. Starting January 16, residents should prepare for a prolonged spell of cold weather accompanied by widespread fog and potential ground frost.
Cold Wave to Grip Multiple States
Cold wave conditions are very likely to develop at isolated places on January 16. The affected areas include Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Odisha. These regions will also experience cold day conditions at isolated locations.
Delhi continues to face intense winter weather. Over the past 24 hours, most parts of the city recorded cold wave conditions. Minimum temperatures ranged between 2 and 5 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures stayed between 16 and 19 degrees Celsius.
Visibility dropped significantly due to dense fog. At 0600 IST, Palam recorded just 50 metres visibility. Safdarjung reported 100 metres at 0630 IST. Minimum temperatures remained appreciably below normal across most locations.
Dense Fog Expected to Disrupt Daily Life
One of the most persistent weather features will be dense to very dense fog, especially during late night and early morning hours. This will severely impact road traffic, train services, and flight operations.
January 16 Forecast:
- Dense fog at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim
- Dense to very dense fog at isolated locations over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand
Subsequent Days:
- January 17: Dense fog likely over Assam and Meghalaya, Bihar, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. Dense to very dense fog expected over Uttar Pradesh.
- January 18: Dense fog predicted over Bihar, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, and West Uttar Pradesh. Dense to very dense fog over East Uttar Pradesh.
- January 19-21: Similar fog conditions expected to persist over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, and Uttarakhand.
Ground Frost Alert for Uttarakhand
The IMD has indicated the likelihood of ground frost at isolated places in Uttarakhand on January 16. This phenomenon poses significant risks to standing crops and horticultural produce, particularly in higher-altitude districts where overnight temperatures can drop sharply.
Rainfall and Snowfall in Western Himalayas
Alongside cold and fog, light to moderate rain and snow is expected over parts of the Western Himalayan Region from January 16 to January 21. Isolated to scattered rainfall and snow is particularly likely over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Additional weather patterns include:
- Isolated rain in Punjab from January 18 to January 20
- Rain in Haryana, Chandigarh, and West Uttar Pradesh on January 18-19
These conditions are connected with the passage of Western Disturbances, which are normal during winter and significantly influence weather patterns in North India. The IMD suggests a fresh western disturbance may affect Northwest India from January 19, potentially impacting temperatures and rainfall.
Safety Advisory for Residents
The IMD has issued important advisories for people living in affected areas. Residents should remain vigilant about daily weather forecast alerts. Road users must exercise extreme caution when driving in foggy conditions.
As winter continues to grip large parts of the country, cold temperatures, dense fog, and intermittent precipitation will remain defining features of north India's weather through the third week of January. The IMD's forecast covers the period from 0830 IST on January 16 to 0830 IST on January 22.
