Large parts of north and eastern India are likely to witness dense fog, cold wave conditions and fresh snowfall from January 28 onwards, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather department has linked the change to the continued influence of a western disturbance, with another system expected to affect northwest India from the night of January 30.
Cold wave and dense fog alert
As per the IMD press release, dense fog conditions during morning and night hours are likely in isolated pockets over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during January 28–30. Fog is also expected in Uttarakhand on January 29 and 30, and in Uttar Pradesh, north Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar on January 28 and 29.
The IMD has also forecast cold wave conditions in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh during January 28–31, and over Himachal Pradesh during January 29–31.
The agency said a fresh western disturbance is expected to impact northwest India from January 30 night. Under its influence, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall/snowfall accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds reaching 30–40 kmph is likely over the Western Himalayan region and adjoining plains of northwest India on February 1 and 2.
Separately, the IMD has indicated isolated light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) over Bihar on January 28, while isolated hailstorm activity is also likely over Sikkim on January 28.
IMD Weather update for Delhi-NCR
For Delhi, Chandigarh and Haryana, the IMD forecast points to dense fog at isolated places during morning/night hours, alongside the possibility of cold wave conditions at isolated pockets. Commuters may face reduced visibility during early morning and late-night travel hours.
Avalanche alert in Uttarakhand after fresh snowfall
Meanwhile, PTI reported that an avalanche warning has been issued for several high-altitude areas of Uttarakhand, including Badrinath and Kedarnath, following fresh snowfall. The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority has alerted districts in view of the risk, PTI said.
According to a forecast issued by the Chandigarh-based Defence Geo-Informatics Research Establishment (DGRE), snowfall and avalanches were likely in various high-altitude areas from 5 pm on January 27 to 5 pm on January 28. Districts Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag were placed in the ‘orange’ category, indicating deep and unstable snow cover with a high likelihood of natural avalanches, while Pithoragarh was placed in the ‘yellow’ category, PTI reported.
As a precaution, schools up to Class 12 were closed in multiple Uttarakhand districts amid inclement weather, PTI said.