The year 2025 is set to make a dramatic entrance across North India, with meteorological authorities forecasting a combination of dense fog and a thunderstorm for New Year's Day. Residents of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, and surrounding regions should prepare for significantly reduced visibility and potentially disruptive weather as they welcome the new year.
IMD Issues Detailed Forecast for New Year's Eve and Day
According to the latest bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the weather on December 31 and January 1 will be dominated by two key phenomena. Dense to very dense fog is very likely during the night and morning hours of January 1, 2025. This blanket of fog is expected to severely impact visibility, dropping it below 50 meters in many areas, which poses a major risk to road, rail, and air travel during the crucial holiday period.
Simultaneously, the IMD has predicted a spell of rain or a thunderstorm, accompanied by gusty winds, on New Year's Day itself. This unusual combination of fog and thunderstorm activity is attributed to specific atmospheric conditions prevalent over the northern plains during this season.
Specific Warnings and Regional Impact
The weather office has issued specific warnings for several states and union territories. The advisory for dense to very dense fog covers Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh. For other parts of Northwest India, including East Uttar Pradesh and North Rajasthan, the forecast is for dense fog conditions.
Regarding the thunderstorm activity, the IMD stated, "Light/moderate rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds (speed 30-40 kmph) very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi & West Uttar Pradesh on 01st January." This indicates that the celebratory mood on January 1 might be dampened by wet and windy weather, urging people to plan their outdoor activities with caution.
Precautions and Broader Weather Context
Authorities are advising the public to take several precautions due to the dual weather threat. Travelers, especially those planning long-distance road trips late at night or early in the morning, are urged to exercise extreme caution, use fog lights, and check flight and train schedules before departing. The poor visibility conditions are a leading cause of road accidents during the winter months in this region.
The current weather pattern is part of a larger cold wave affecting the plains of North India. While the minimum temperatures have been hovering close to normal, the combination of cold and high moisture in the lower atmosphere is creating the perfect recipe for persistent fog formation. The approaching western disturbance is then expected to trigger the convective activity leading to the thunderstorm forecast for New Year's Day.
This forecast underscores the volatile winter weather patterns of North India and highlights the importance of staying updated with official IMD alerts. As revelers plan their New Year celebrations, keeping an eye on the sky and the latest weather bulletins will be essential for a safe start to 2025.
