As winter maintains its firm grip on North India, the latest weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates that dense to very dense fog conditions are likely to persist over the region for the next five days.
Additionally, cold day to severe cold day conditions are expected to prevail over North India for the next three days, accompanied by a cold wave to severe cold wave conditions in the plains of Northwest India during the same period.
Cold wave conditions and dense fog continues over North India
Currently, cold wave conditions have been reported in isolated pockets of Punjab, East Uttar Pradesh, West Rajasthan, and North Madhya Pradesh. Widespread dense to very dense fog has enveloped most parts of Punjab, Haryana, and some areas of East Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
Isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh, West Rajasthan, northeast Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Assam & Meghalaya, and Tripura are also experiencing dense fog.
Yesterday, cold day to severe cold day conditions were prevalent in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, some areas of Bihar, West Rajasthan, and isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, North Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and East Rajasthan.
Looking ahead, the forecast predicts the continuation of dense to very dense fog conditions during the late-night and morning hours over many parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh for the next four days. Similar foggy conditions are expected in parts of Uttar Pradesh for the next three days and in isolated pockets of Uttarakhand till January 23.
Orange alert issued in Delhi amid dense fog
The national capital and its surrounding areas are under an “orange alert” as per the recent announcement by the weather department on Friday. IMD predicts mainly clear skies on Saturday, accompanied by dense to very dense fog during the early hours. In Delhi, isolated places are expected to experience cold to severe cold day conditions, with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle around 15 and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively, according to officials.
“Mornings and evenings in Delhi will be cold. However, there will be relief during the daytime due to sunlight,” informed Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist and head of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre. He further mentioned that there has been no noteworthy alteration in the weather conditions of Delhi throughout the month of January thus far.
Temperature to decrease in East India
In terms of temperatures, a fall of 2-3°C is anticipated in many parts of East India over the next three days. No significant change in minimum temperatures is expected over the rest of North India for the next five days. Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are likely to persist in isolated pockets of Punjab and Haryana on January 20, with cold wave conditions continuing on January 21-22.
Moreover, cold wave conditions are expected in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh and North Madhya Pradesh on January 20, along with West Rajasthan till January 21 and East Rajasthan on January 20- 21. Ground frost conditions are also likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand till January 21.
