The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a major weather alert for vast swathes of the country, predicting a harsh combination of severe cold waves, dense fog, and isolated heavy rainfall over the next several days. The comprehensive warning, detailed in the All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin released on the morning of January 12, 2026, indicates a significant intensification of winter conditions in northern, northwestern, and eastern regions, while southern states brace for wet weather.
Southern States Face Heavy Rainfall, North Gripped by Intense Cold
The IMD has specifically forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on January 12. This is attributed to an upper air cyclonic circulation persisting over south coastal Tamil Nadu and the nearby Gulf of Mannar. This system is also expected to bring scattered rainfall to parts of Kerala and Lakshadweep in the initial days of the forecast period.
In stark contrast, a severe winter chill is set to tighten its grip over North and Northwest India. Between January 12 and 14, cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely in several pockets of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, extending to neighbouring states. The affected regions include Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Jharkhand and Bihar.
Data from January 11 underscores the severity, with temperatures plunging far below normal across northern, central, and eastern India. Phalodi in Rajasthan recorded the lowest minimum temperature over the plains at a biting 0.4°C. Meanwhile, Honavar in Karnataka reported the highest maximum of 35.5°C, highlighting extreme regional variations.
Dense Fog to Disrupt Travel, Advisory Issued
One of the most disruptive elements of the current weather pattern is the prevalence of dense to very dense fog during morning hours across North India. The IMD reported that very dense fog is already affecting a few places in Punjab and West Rajasthan. Dense fog has been observed in Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and northeastern areas.
Visibility has dropped alarmingly in several locations. Sriganganagar in Rajasthan and Amritsar in Punjab recorded zero visibility, while cities like Chandigarh, Varanasi, and Aizawl saw visibility reduced to less than 200 meters. The fog is predicted to persist, with dense conditions likely over Uttar Pradesh until January 18 and over Bihar until January 17. Other regions like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and the northeastern states will also experience fog on various days.
The IMD has issued a clear advisory, warning that these conditions will severely impact transport and aviation. Flight schedules and train services are likely to face delays and disruptions. For road users, the department advises driving with fog lights on, maintaining moderate speeds, and staying alert to notifications from airlines and railways to avoid accidents and congestion.
Weekly Outlook and Western Disturbance
Looking ahead, a fresh western disturbance is expected to affect the Western Himalayan region from January 15. This system is likely to bring scattered to fairly widespread precipitation over the hills and isolated rainfall over adjoining plains.
The overall weather outlook for the coming week suggests predominantly dry conditions for most of India, except for the isolated rainfall in the south and the Western Himalayas. Fog is expected to remain a dominant feature over northern India throughout the week, even as the intensity of the cold wave is forecast to gradually reduce after the middle of January.
