Cold Wave Intensifies Across North India, IMD Warns of Continued Chill and Fog

Severe cold conditions have intensified across North India, with the impact of a cold wave becoming more pronounced. According to the latest forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave conditions are likely to persist over northwestern India for the next two to three days.

Several areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have recorded the season’s first snowfall, disrupting daily life and further intensifying cold conditions in the adjoining plains. Cold wave conditions are also prevailing over parts of eastern Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.

As temperatures dropped sharply, daytime maximum temperatures in Punjab’s Amritsar and Ludhiana, Haryana’s Ambala, and Rajasthan’s Ganganagar and Jaipur fell below 10 degrees Celsius. The IMD has forecast a further fall of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in minimum temperatures over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh during the next 24 hours. In Uttar Pradesh, Etawah emerged as the coldest place in the state, recording a minimum temperature of 2.6 degrees Celsius.

A thick blanket of fog enveloped much of northwestern India on Wednesday. Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan continued to experience severe cold conditions. While some urban areas may see brief spells of sunshine during the afternoon, the IMD said its impact would remain limited due to persistent cold northwesterly winds. Dense fog is likely to continue during morning hours over northwestern, central, and northeastern India for the next five to seven days.

The IMD has issued cold wave warnings for January 8 and 9 over parts of Himachal Pradesh, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand; from January 8 to 10 over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi; and from January 9 to 12, 2026, over Rajasthan. During this period, dense to very dense fog is expected over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh. Dense fog conditions are also likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and parts of northeastern India.

Rail services have been disrupted in several regions due to low visibility caused by dense fog. According to Northern Railway, more than 50 trains bound for or departing from Delhi were running behind schedule on Wednesday morning. Over the past 24 hours, minimum temperatures in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh remained below 0 degrees Celsius, while some areas of Uttarakhand recorded minimum temperatures between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius.

Higher-altitude areas such as Gulmarg and Pahalgam are witnessing heavy snowfall, with sub-zero temperatures continuing across the Kashmir Valley. Light to moderate snowfall is also expected in Shimla, Manali, and Badrinath. In parts of Uttarakhand, the IMD has issued a warning for ground frost, which could pose a risk to standing crops.

The weather department has advised people to remain cautious over the next 48 hours as cold wave and fog conditions persist. With snowfall expected in the hills and severe cold and dense fog likely to continue in the plains, residents have been urged to take necessary precautions against the harsh winter conditions.