As the year approaches its end, winter conditions intensified across large parts of north India, disrupting daily life due to dense fog, falling temperatures, and adverse weather warnings. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Uttar Pradesh on Saturday as foggy conditions severely reduced visibility across several districts.
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are expected to witness a fresh spell of wet weather, with rain and snowfall predicted at multiple locations. In Kashmir, the forecast comes just ahead of the onset of Chillai Kalan, the harsh 40 day winter period that begins on December 21 and lasts until January 31. The local meteorological department has predicted moderate to heavy snowfall in higher reaches, with light to moderate precipitation likely over the plains.
The valley has so far experienced a largely dry winter, which has led to an increase in seasonal ailments such as cough and cold.
Night temperatures showed slight improvement, though Pulwama recorded the lowest minimum at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius. Srinagar registered a low of minus 0.4 degrees, while thick fog covered much of the valley, particularly near water bodies.
In Himachal Pradesh, dense fog was reported in Bilaspur and shallow fog in Mandi. A yellow warning was issued for foggy conditions near the Bhakra dam reservoir and parts of the Balh valley. Kukumseri in Lahaul and Spiti remained the coldest location with a minimum of minus 5.7 degrees Celsius. The state has recorded no rainfall so far this month, raising concerns among farmers and orchard owners due to a complete rainfall deficit.
Delhi continued to battle poor air quality amid a cold wave, with the maximum temperature dropping to 16.9 degrees Celsius, well below the seasonal average.
Calm winds and unfavourable weather conditions prevented the dispersion of pollutants, leading to dense smog and fog in several areas. The city remained under an orange alert due to low visibility during early morning hours.
Uttar Pradesh faced the brunt of the cold wave, with dense to very dense fog reported across large parts of the state. Visibility dropped below 50 metres in cities such as Agra, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Bareilly, and Jhansi. Cold day conditions were observed across western, central, and eastern regions, driven by cold northerly winds and persistent atmospheric inversion.
The IMD warned that these conditions could continue for several days, affecting transport services.
Punjab and Haryana also remained under intense cold as fog blanketed many areas.
Faridkot recorded the lowest temperature in Punjab at 4.9 degrees Celsius, while parts of Haryana such as Jind and Hisar saw temperatures dip close to seasonal lows.
Rajasthan experienced similar cold conditions, with Fatehpur in Sikar district emerging as the coldest place at 5.4 degrees Celsius. Jaipur recorded a minimum of 10.8 degrees Celsius.
Jharkhand came under an orange alert for very dense fog in several districts, including Garhwa, Palamu, and Bokaro, where visibility is expected to drop below 50 metres. A yellow alert remains in place for other districts as foggy conditions are likely to persist until December 23. Officials advised caution during early morning travel due to poor visibility.
In eastern India, West Bengal is likely to witness dry weather over the coming days, with shallow fog expected in some districts. Darjeeling recorded a minimum temperature of 5.8 degrees Celsius, while Kolkata saw a low of 16.2 degrees.
Weather authorities have urged citizens and local administrations to remain alert, particularly during early morning and late night hours, as dense fog and cold conditions continue to affect large parts of the country.
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