The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a stark warning of severe coldwave and dense fog conditions across several parts of Northwest and Central India in the coming days. Cold day conditions are expected to affect isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan on December 29. A more severe coldwave is likely to impact Himachal Pradesh on December 30 and 31, with isolated areas of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan also bracing for plunging temperatures. 

Dense to very dense fog is predicted during late-night and early-morning hours in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and other states, further complicating travel and daily life. Temperatures are expected to dip by 3-5°C across Northwest, West, and Central India, signaling harsh winter conditions ahead.

Heavy snowfall cripples Kashmir

Daily life in Kashmir came to a standstill as the season’s heaviest snowfall disrupted air, rail, and road traffic and caused widespread power and water outages. Heavy to very heavy snowfall blanketed south Kashmir’s plains, while moderate snowfall was reported in central Kashmir. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed, and snow clearance operations near the Navyug Tunnel were severely hindered. Train services between Banihal and Baramulla were suspended, and air traffic to and from Srinagar came to a halt. Despite these challenges, locals in Gund extended their hospitality by opening a mosque to stranded travelers.

Snow and rain lash Uttarakhand

Continuous snowfall in Uttarakhand’s hill districts caused temperatures to plunge. Popular destinations like Auli, Hemkund Sahib, and Chopta were blanketed in snow. Key highways, including the Badrinath and Joshimath-Niti routes, were blocked, impacting connectivity. Rain compounded problems by disrupting electricity in several villages across Karnaprayag, Tharali, and Narayanbagh areas.

Record rainfall in Delhi

Delhi experienced an overcast and chilly day, recording 41.2 mm of rainfall in 24 hours—the city’s highest single-day December rainfall since 1923. The maximum temperature dropped to 15.8°C, significantly below normal, while the minimum was unusually high at 12.7°C due to the rain. The IMD attributed this weather to an active western disturbance interacting with easterly winds.

Widespread rain in northwest India

Rain continued for the second consecutive day in Punjab and Haryana, affecting temperatures in cities like Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Ambala. Rajasthan saw moderate showers, with Jhalawar district recording 86 mm of rain. Some eastern areas also experienced hailstorms. Dense fog reduced visibility in parts of the region. Chandigarh, the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, reported a maximum temperature of 15.1°C, accompanied by rain throughout the day.