January 20, 2024 North India continues to grapple with an enduring cold wave, accompanied by dense fog, causing disruptions in rail and air traffic across the region. Since December 29, 2023, maximum temperatures have plummeted below normal by 5-8 degrees Celsius, leading to an extended period of chilly weather.
Although a brief respite was experienced on January 7 and 8 due to a passing western disturbance, cold conditions quickly returned from January 9 onwards. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts the persistence of cold wave and dense fog conditions in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The department predicts “dense to very dense fog at a few places” and warns of “cold day to severe cold day conditions” in several areas, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Ground frost has been reported at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The minimum temperatures across many parts of Punjab and some parts of Haryana-Chandigarh range from 3-6 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, most parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, north Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar are experiencing temperatures in the range of 7-10 degrees Celsius.
The ongoing foggy weather has significantly impacted road, rail, and air traffic, with at least 22 trains running late and numerous flight operations delayed and diverted at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 6 degrees Celsius today, and the forecast suggests that it will remain below 10 degrees Celsius for the next few days.
The weather department anticipates that dense fog, cold day to severe cold day conditions, and cold wave to severe cold wave conditions will persist over North India for the next two days, gradually decreasing in intensity thereafter. Residents are advised to take precautions and stay updated with the latest weather forecasts during this prolonged cold spell.
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