Delhi and several northern states are experiencing the coldest temperatures of the season, prompting cold wave alerts, school closures, and frost warnings. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has cautioned that severe cold and dense fog will persist over the coming days.

Delhi and NCR Wake Up to Frost

On Monday, Delhi recorded its lowest minimum temperature of the season at 3.2°C, while frost spread across the plains of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab.

In the outskirts of the National Capital Region, Gurgaon experienced near sub-zero conditions, with temperatures dropping to -1°C in some areas. The severe cold wave froze dew, forming layers of ice across fields, grass, and open spaces.

School Closures and Adjusted Timings

The extreme cold has forced authorities to shut schools in several districts:

• Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh: Classes for students up to Grade 5 suspended until January 15; Grades 6–12 will follow revised timings from 10 AM to 3 PM.

• Ranchi, Jharkhand: Classes for students up to Grade 6 remain closed until January 14; Grades 7–12 will start at 10 AM.

The IMD has issued yellow alerts for cold wave conditions in parts of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and surrounding regions from January 13 to 16.

Frost and Dense Fog Grip Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand continues to reel under intense cold, dense fog, and icy conditions.

• Haridwar: Visibility sharply reduced; the usually crowded Har Ki Pauri saw very few devotees.

• Hill districts, including Bageshwar, Chamoli, and Uttarkashi, reported freezing water sources.

• Plains and hill regions, such as Udham Singh Nagar, experienced dry cold with persistent fog.

The state has yet to receive its first snowfall or rainfall this season.

Rajasthan Records Below-Zero Temperatures

Rajasthan witnessed some of the harshest winter conditions:

• Fatehpur (Shekhawati region): Minimum temperature of -1.9°C, after -3.4°C the previous day, breaking a two-year record.

• Crops, fields, and irrigation pipelines were coated in ice, giving the plains a snow-covered appearance.

• Other regions: Pratapgarh -2°C, Barmer -1°C, Pilani 1.2°C, Sikar 1.7°C, Churu 2°C, accompanied by dense fog in several districts.

Bitter Cold Across Punjab, Haryana, and UP

Punjab and Haryana remain in the grip of sub-zero conditions:

• Bathinda: 1.6°C | Hisar: 2.2°C | Narnaul: 3°C

• Faridkot: 2.9°C | Ludhiana: 4.6°C | Amritsar: 3.2°C | Gurdaspur: 3.8°C

• Chandigarh: 5°C | Ambala: 5.5°C | Faridabad: 4.2°C | Rohtak: 4°C

Uttar Pradesh also faced freezing conditions, with residents reporting difficulty commuting and stopping frequently to warm up.

Rare Ground Frost in West Bengal

In southern West Bengal’s Purulia district, ground frost was observed in Jhalda, Begunkodar, and Bandwan, forming a white layer resembling snowfall, a rare phenomenon for the plains region.

Kashmir Endures Harsh Winter

Kashmir continues to experience ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, the 40-day peak winter period:

• Srinagar: -5.2°C

• Shopian: -8.6°C

• Pahalgam: -7.6°C

• Gulmarg: -6.2°C

Accidents Amid Fog in Bihar

Dense fog in Bihar caused travel disruptions and accidents. On Monday, a man and his daughter were killed, and four others injured when an SUV collided with a container truck on the Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama highway.

Authorities continue to urge the public to take precautions as the cold wave, frost, and dense fog persist across northern India.

Forecast: Cold Conditions to Persist

The IMD predicts:

• Minimum temperatures in Delhi and surrounding regions will remain 3–5°C below normal for the next three days.

• Maximum temperatures will stay near normal, rising above normal after four days.

• Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions expected across Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on January 12–13.

• Dense fog likely over northwest India and Bihar for the next five days.

Residents are advised to dress warmly, avoid early morning travel in fog, and take safety precautions during this extreme winter spell.