A pronounced worsening of winter weather is forecast across large swathes of India starting January 7, with the northern plains preparing for an intense spell of cold marked by plunging temperatures, dense fog and harsh daytime conditions. Weather experts have cautioned that a powerful coldwave is set to take hold across northern India from tonight, producing conditions comparable to the severe winters last experienced in December 2019 and early 2024.
Large parts of north India are likely to witness prolonged cold day–like conditions, with daytime temperatures dipping around 4 to 8 degrees Celsius below normal levels between January 8 and January 16. States such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and the national capital Delhi are expected to bear the brunt of this cold spell. There is also a strong likelihood of surface-level as well as higher-level fog persisting through much of the day, reducing sunshine and intensifying the chill.
According to weather inputs shared by Devendra Tripathi, founder of Mausam Tak and a well-known weather vlogger for Kisan Tak, January 7 will mark a sharp downturn in winter conditions across the country. He said the northern plains, in particular, should brace for biting cold, poor visibility and steadily falling temperatures as the coldwave strengthens.
Devendra warned that dense to very dense fog is likely to envelop Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir, along with several districts across central and northern Uttar Pradesh. He said the fog belt could stretch from Bareilly to Bahraich, affecting major cities such as Lucknow, Ayodhya, Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat and Prayagraj. These areas may experience severe visibility disruptions during the early morning and late-night hours, with fog potentially lingering into daytime in some locations.
In Madhya Pradesh, fog is expected to spread from Rewa, Sidhi and Singrauli to regions north of Vidisha, covering cities including Bhopal, Sagar, Satna, Panna, Rewa and Gwalior. The state is also likely to see a further fall in minimum temperatures, which could intensify cold stress, particularly during nighttime and early morning hours.
Across the western Himalayan region, partly cloudy skies are expected over Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while light cloud cover may persist over Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and parts of Assam. However, these cloud formations are not expected to bring any significant rainfall or snowfall on January 7.
In contrast, southern and coastal parts of the country are set to experience a different weather pattern. Cloudy conditions are likely over Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and Lakshadweep. Light and isolated rainfall may occur over Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with showers also possible at one or two places in Andhra Pradesh. Heavier rainfall is expected later, around January 9 and 10, especially over parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, as southern weather systems strengthen.
For much of the rest of the country, including Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Gujarat, weather conditions are expected to remain largely dry on January 7. While the impact of the coldwave may gradually push southward, Devendra noted that prevailing Bay of Bengal winds over Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Kerala are likely to limit the spread of severe cold into these regions for the time being.
Overall, January 7 is expected to signal the beginning of a prolonged and intense winter spell across north and central India. The coming days could bring significant challenges for travel, public health and agriculture, as cold temperatures and dense fog continue to dominate the weather landscape.
