A prolonged spell of severe winter weather is set to grip large parts of India over the coming days, according to the latest official forecast. The All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued on January 9, 2026, indicates that cold wave conditions, dense fog, and isolated heavy rainfall will persist across multiple regions from January 9 through January 11, with some advisories active even longer.
Rainfall and Thunderstorm Predictions
The southern state of Tamil Nadu, along with Puducherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is bracing for significant precipitation. The bulletin forecasts moderate to heavy rainfall at isolated places over these regions on January 10, with the activity likely continuing into January 11. This wet spell has been ongoing since January 9 and may last till the weekend.
In the north, similar rainfall is expected over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and east Rajasthan on the same dates. Meanwhile, the Nicobar Islands experienced light rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 30–40 kmph on January 9.
Temperature Trends and Dense Fog Advisories
Minimum temperatures are predicted to hold steady over northwest and east India for the next week. Central India and Maharashtra will see no major change in the next 24 hours, followed by a gradual rise of 2–3°C over the subsequent four days. Gujarat and Northeast India are expected to follow a similar pattern, with temperatures rising after an initial stable period.
More critically, dense fog will significantly reduce visibility across vast swathes of the country:
- Till January 11: Dense to very dense fog in isolated pockets of West and East Rajasthan (continuing till Jan 13 in East Rajasthan).
- Till January 14: Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- Till January 16: Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Bihar.
- West Uttar Pradesh: On January 10 and again from January 13 to 16.
Other regions under fog advisory till January 11 include Madhya Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
Cold Wave, Cold Day, and Marine Warnings
The bulletin has issued specific warnings for extreme cold conditions. Cold day conditions are likely in isolated parts of East Rajasthan and Bihar from January 9–11, and over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, West Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh during January 9–10.
Furthermore, cold wave conditions are expected in isolated areas of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Odisha, and North Interior Karnataka on January 10–11. Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar may also experience a cold wave on January 10, with Rajasthan likely facing it from January 11–14. Isolated areas of Uttarakhand could also see ground frost from January 9–11.
Mariners and fishermen have been put on high alert. Squally weather with winds of 40–50 kmph, gusting to 60-65 kmph, is prevailing over the southwest Bay of Bengal, east equatorial Indian Ocean, Gulf of Mannar, Comorin area, and along the coasts of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. Rough to very rough sea conditions are expected on January 9 and 10. Authorities have strongly advised fishermen not to venture into these zones until conditions improve after January 10, and to avoid the southeast Bay of Bengal until the evening of January 9.
Weather conditions across the country will remain under close surveillance, with area-specific advisories active through January 11, 2026. Residents in affected regions are urged to exercise caution, especially while traveling, and to stay updated with the latest official bulletins.
