Weather to Deteriorate Again: Delhi and UP Brace for Heavy Rain, Hills for Snowfall and Storms

New Delhi: The effect of cold had reduced a bit in North India in the past, but now the weather had changed again. The Indian Meteorological Department had issued a warning of heavy rain, hailstorms, thunderstorms, and strong winds in many states on January 23, 2026, due to an active western disturbance. There was a fear of heavy snowfall in the hilly areas and the return of a cold wave in the plain areas.

Why has the weather suddenly started deteriorating?

According to meteorologists, a strong western disturbance has become active over North India, which is bringing with it moisture and cold winds. Due to this, clouds gathered rapidly, the temperature started falling and rainy conditions occurred in many areas.

How serious can the conditions be in the mountains?

There has been a warning of heavy snowfall in the high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. There is a possibility of both snow and rain in Kashmir Valley on 22 and 23 January. An orange alert has been issued in many districts of Himachal and Uttarakhand. Due to snow accumulation, there is a danger of roads being closed and passengers facing problems.

What effect will be seen in the plain states?

There is a possibility of light to moderate rain, thunder and hail at some places in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on January 23. Strong winds can blow at a speed of 40 to 65 kilometers per hour, due to which the cold will be felt even more.

How much will the cold increase in Uttar Pradesh?

There are chances of a cold wave in the morning in districts like Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra and Mathura. The effect of fog and severe cold can be seen in Gurugram and Sonipat of Haryana and Amritsar and Ludhiana of Punjab. In many areas the temperature may fall by 1 to 2 degrees.

What will be the rain pattern in Delhi-NCR?

The temperature in Delhi and surrounding areas may increase slightly on the morning of 23 January, but there will be a thick layer of clouds. Light rain may start in the early morning and continue intermittently throughout the day. There may also be rain with heavy showers and thunderstorms in some areas. The weather is likely to calm down after a late night.

Will the weather remain bad in the coming days also?

Light rain and fog may persist over northwest India on January 24 and 25. In South India, an alert of thunderstorms and rain has been issued in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala on 25-26 January. The Meteorological Department says that another western disturbance may become active around January 26, due to which a new phase of cold and rain is expected to begin.