The final week of December is set to bring a severe winter onslaught to large parts of India, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting a punishing mix of cold waves, dense to very dense fog, and fresh snowfall. The harsh conditions, expected from December 25 to 30, are likely to disrupt daily life across the northern, eastern, and central regions of the country before a possible stabilization towards the year's end.
Cold Wave Grips Plains, Snowfall Returns to Himalayas
According to the IMD bulletin issued on December 24, cold wave to severe cold day conditions are predicted at isolated places across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand from December 25 to 27. Daytime temperatures will struggle to rise, leading to persistently cold conditions. Uttarakhand may face severe cold day conditions on December 25 and 26, while Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh will likely experience cold days starting December 25.
Meanwhile, the Western Himalayan region is bracing for fresh precipitation. From December 27 onwards, isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall and snowfall is very likely. Himachal Pradesh can expect these conditions on December 28 and 30, while Uttarakhand may see snowfall and rain on December 29 and 30. This activity, driven by a fresh western disturbance, could bring significant snow to higher reaches, potentially affecting road connectivity in mountain passes and tourist areas.
Dense Fog to Severely Impact Visibility and Travel
One of the most disruptive elements will be widespread dense to very dense fog. The northern plains are set to be heavily affected:
- East Uttar Pradesh: Widespread fog till December 28, with conditions lingering till December 31 in some areas.
- West Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi: Dense fog expected till December 28, with another spell from December 27-29. The early morning hours of December 29 and 30 may see extreme fog in these regions and the Delhi-NCR area.
- Bihar: Dense fog forecast from December 25 to 29.
- Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya: Fog likely till December 29.
- Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura: Foggy conditions expected till December 27.
This fog will significantly reduce visibility, impacting road, rail, and air travel during the crucial morning and night hours.
Temperature Drop and Contrasting Southern Weather
The IMD has indicated a gradual fall in minimum temperatures across east India by 2–3 degrees Celsius between December 25 and 27. Northeast India will see temperatures hold for two days before a sharper drop of 3–4 degrees Celsius from December 27 through New Year's Eve.
In a stark contrast to the freezing north, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are forecast to experience isolated thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) from December 27 to 29. Short-duration heavy showers are also expected, though no fishermen warnings have been issued yet.
Overall, the dominant theme for the last week of 2023 across much of India remains intensely wintry, with authorities advising citizens to take necessary precautions against the cold and plan travel considering the likely disruptions due to fog and snow.
