The cold wave has tightened its grip on Delhi-NCR and various parts of northern India, casting a bone-chilling atmosphere with temperatures plummeting below the seasonal norm. A dense layer of fog has blanketed the region, affecting visibility and disrupting daily life.
After a brief respite with two days of bright sunshine, the cold wave returned on Sunday, catching residents off guard as temperatures dipped sharply, leading to severe cold weather conditions. The national capital, Delhi, is currently under the influence of intense fog, impacting daily activities and transportation.
Joggers at Delhi’s Kartavya Path navigated through low visibility, and traffic movement at Akshardham was hampered by the thick fog. Train services at the New Delhi Railway Station faced disruptions due to adverse weather conditions. On Sunday, the maximum temperature recorded was three degrees below normal, adding to the discomfort.
The meteorological department predicts that moderate fog will persist on Monday morning, giving way to clear skies during the day. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 22 and seven degrees, respectively. Similar weather conditions are anticipated on Tuesday, with the possibility of light rains on Wednesday and Thursday, contributing to a marginal dip in daytime temperatures.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a dense fog and cold day alert for Uttarakhand on January 29, along with the expectation of light rain in the hilly state from January 31. Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh are likely to experience dense fog until February 1.
List of states with expected weather conditions:
- Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan: Very dense fog on January 29 and 30.
- Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh: Very dense fog on January 29.
- Bihar: Very dense fog and severe cold day conditions from January 29-31.
- Uttarakhand, North Madhya Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura: Dense fog conditions on January 29.
- Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand: Severe cold day and cold day conditions on January 29.
- Sub-Himalayan West Bengal: Severe cold wave conditions on January 29.
- Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, and Himachal Pradesh: Moderate rainfall or snowfall till February 3.
- Kashmir: Heavy rainfall or snowfall on January 30 and 31.
- Himachal Pradesh: Similar weather conditions on January 31.
- Uttarakhand, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and West Uttar Pradesh: Light to moderate rainfall from January 31-February 2.
The IMD reported dense fog in parts of Uttar Pradesh, isolated pockets of Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Haryana, Punjab, and western Uttar Pradesh continue to experience below-normal minimum temperatures, with no relief from the cold in sight.
Visibility of around 500 meters was recorded in various cities, emphasizing the severity of the fog in Patiala and Amritsar (Punjab); Palam and Safadarjung (Delhi); Ganganagar and Jaipur (Rajasthan); Bareilly, Bahraich, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh); Purnea, Patna, Gaya, and Bhagalpur (Bihar); Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh); Jharsiguda and Puri (Odisha); and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh).
