Cold Wave Tightens Grip From Tuesday Night, Dense Fog Returns Across North India

New Delhi: An intense cold wave began sweeping across large parts of north India from Tuesday night, bringing a sharp drop in temperatures and the return of dense fog in several states.

Weather conditions turned harsher late Tuesday as cold northerly winds strengthened across the region. By Wednesday morning, many cities woke up to colder air and poor visibility, marking the start of a fresh cold spell.

What is driving the sudden dip in temperature?

According to the India Meteorological Department, clear skies and icy winds after sunset on Tuesday allowed temperatures to fall rapidly. This set off cold wave conditions across north-west India.

Minimum temperatures in several areas dropped by two to four degrees, making nights noticeably colder.

Which areas are already feeling the chill?

Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh saw a sharp fall in mercury. Delhi-NCR recorded colder early morning hours on Wednesday, with fog affecting visibility in some pockets.

Parts of Bihar and Jharkhand also reported cold day conditions, where daytime temperatures struggled to rise.

Several north Indian cities reported near-freezing conditions on Tuesday. Churu recorded 8.6 degrees Celsius, Patiala 9 degrees Celsius, while Delhi, Rohtak and Kota all logged 9.6 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh stood at 9.8 degrees Celsius, while Amritsar, Ambala and Hisar hovered around the 10-degree mark.

What did IMD say?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday warned that minimum temperatures across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi could fall by another 2-3 degrees Celsius over the next two days. 

The IMD has also issued a yellow alert for dense fog on Wednesday, with cold day conditions likely to continue. Maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 16 degrees Celsius and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively.

⚠️IMD Issued Fog Warning⚠️

🌫️ Dense to Very Dense Fog Warning till the morning of 7th January.

🔹 Very Dense Fog likely (isolated places):
Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh

🔹 Dense Fog expected:
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Bihar, Himachal… pic.twitter.com/n3h04sDTI4

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) January 6, 2026

Why is dense fog back on the roads?

Low wind speeds and increased moisture near the surface have created ideal conditions for fog formation. Dense fog is expected during late night and early morning hours over the next few days.

Visibility may drop sharply along highways, railway tracks and near river belts.

How is daily life being impacted?

Train schedules and road traffic may face delays due to poor visibility, especially during early morning hours. Flight operations could also be affected at major northern airports.

Health experts have advised people to stay warm and limit exposure to the cold, particularly children and the elderly.

What lies ahead for the rest of the week?

The cold wave is expected to continue through the week, with little immediate relief. Weather officials say conditions may ease only after a shift in wind patterns later this month.

For now, winter has returned in full force across north India.