National Desk: Severe cold conditions and dense fog have tightened their grip across large parts of the country. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), during the final days of the year, as many as 16 states in North India are expected to witness a double impact of ‘Cold Day’ conditions and cold wave. With snowfall in the hilly regions and rainfall in the plains, a major weather change is likely around the New Year.
Red and Orange Alerts Issued for These Regions
IMD has warned that very dense fog may prevail over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh for the next 3–4 days, leading to extremely low visibility.
Apart from this, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and several northeastern states may also experience poor visibility due to fog.
A cold wave is likely to affect parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh from December 30 onward. In Jharkhand, a noticeable drop in temperature is expected after the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, daytime temperatures in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand are expected to remain significantly below normal, making the cold feel more intense due to the absence of sunshine.
Snowfall in the Hills, Rain Likely in the Plains
With a new Western Disturbance becoming active between December 30 and January 2, major weather changes are expected.
- Moderate to heavy snowfall is likely in higher-altitude areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
- On December 30, light rainfall may occur in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
- On January 1, parts of western Uttar Pradesh may also receive rainfall.
In the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, winds may blow at a speed of 30–40 kmph, accompanied by thunderstorms and rain showers.
Temperature Trend for the Next 3 Days
Over the next three days, minimum temperatures in northwestern India may rise slightly by 3–4°C. However, this relief will be short-lived, as temperatures are expected to drop again by 3–4°C over the following four days.
Cold conditions are also likely to intensify in Gujarat and Maharashtra after January 2.
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