Northern India is expected to witness major disruptions on January 9 as an intense spell of cold waves combined with dense fog grips large parts of the region, while southern India braces for heavy rainfall triggered by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. The contrasting weather systems are likely to severely affect travel, daily routines, and outdoor activities across the country.
Across the Indo-Gangetic plains, residents have been warned to prepare for continued difficulties as extremely low temperatures and poor visibility dominate the landscape. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dense to very dense fog is expected to prevail during the morning hours over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. Similar conditions are likely in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, where visibility may drop to near zero in several areas, increasing the risk of travel delays and accidents.
Weather expert Devendra Tripathi, founder of Mausam Tak, explained that although there may be slight improvement in fog conditions by the afternoon in parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the overall day is unlikely to feel clear or bright. He noted that persistent cloud layers will prevent strong sunlight from breaking through, resulting in what he described as a “foggy Sun” rather than a clear winter day.
Temperatures across northern cities are expected to remain well below normal. Data from Skymet indicates that cities such as Jaipur and Delhi have already recorded their lowest temperatures of the month. There is little indication of immediate relief, with cold wave conditions likely to continue in isolated pockets of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana over the coming days.
While the north struggles with freezing conditions, southern India is preparing for a spell of intense rainfall. A deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal is moving west-northwestwards and is forecast to cross the Sri Lanka coast by the evening of January 9. This weather system is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rain to coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, raising concerns about waterlogging and localised flooding.
Devendra Tripathi also pointed out that the impact of the depression will not be limited to coastal areas alone. Light cloud cover is likely to spread across interior regions such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Although these areas may not experience rainfall, the cloud cover is expected to filter sunlight, preventing daytime temperatures from rising significantly and prolonging the winter chill.
In addition, authorities have issued advisories for fishermen along the southern coast, warning them to remain ashore as squally winds associated with the depression could reach speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. As extreme weather conditions affect different parts of the country in contrasting ways, residents in both northern and southern regions have been urged to remain cautious and follow official advisories closely.
