Delhi: North India continues to face harsh winter conditions as dense fog, cold wave, and sub-zero temperatures persist across several states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
Dense to very dense fog, reducing visibility below 50 metres, was recorded in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, while isolated pockets of Bihar, Uttarakhand, and western Rajasthan also experienced low visibility. Some of the most extreme readings included 0 metres at Sarsawa (West UP), Gorakhpur IAF and Kushinagar (East UP), and Amritsar (Punjab). In Delhi, visibility at Palam dropped to 150 metres. The IMD predicts that dense fog will continue in isolated to some pockets across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh during morning hours.
Cold Wave Intensifies
Severe cold wave conditions were reported in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, with isolated pockets of Rajasthan also affected. Cold day to severe cold day conditions were observed in parts of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and western Rajasthan. Ground frost was reported at isolated locations in Uttarakhand.
Minimum temperatures fell 3°C to 6°C below normal across Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Saurashtra & Kutch. Bathinda in Punjab recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the plains at 0.6°C. The IMD has issued warnings that cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely to continue in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on January 13 and 14.
Rainfall and Weather Systems
An upper air cyclonic circulation over the Comorin area is influencing southern India, with heavy rainfall expected at isolated places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal today. Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into parts of the Comorin area in the Bay of Bengal until January 15 due to rough sea conditions.
A fresh western disturbance is predicted to affect the Western Himalayan region from January 15, bringing light to moderate rainfall and snowfall over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution while traveling, especially during early morning hours when fog and cold wave conditions severely reduce visibility and affect daily life.
