Temperatures continue to drop across northern and eastern India, intensifying winter conditions. Snowfall has been reported in several high-altitude regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a western disturbance is likely to bring rain and heavy snowfall to mountainous areas, while the plains remain in the grip of severe cold and dense fog. Severe cold and thick fog have affected normal life in states including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. Low visibility has caused major disruptions to road, rail, and air travel, making commuting difficult for residents.
Flights and trains hit by visibility
At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, dense fog and poor visibility disrupted more than 150 flights. Train services were also affected, with several long-distance trains running hours behind schedule. On roads, vehicles were forced to move slowly due to low visibility, prompting authorities to advise people to avoid non-essential travel. Along with cold weather, rising air pollution has worsened conditions in Delhi-NCR. At 5 am on Saturday, December 20, 2025, the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed 400 in areas like Anand Vihar (420) and Wazirpur (413), placing air quality in the “severe” category.
Dense fog to persist for next 2 days
The IMD has warned that dense to very dense fog, cold wave conditions, and cold days are likely to continue across North India over the next few days. These conditions are expected to further affect road, rail, and air traffic.
Fog alert issued for multiple states
According to the IMD, dense fog is likely in Punjab during the night and morning hours until December 20. Similar conditions are expected in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh, western Uttar Pradesh, northern Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar until December 21. Eastern Uttar Pradesh may continue to experience dense fog until December 22, with foggy conditions likely to return in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh on December 24 and 25.
Weather forecast for southern regions
The Meteorological Department has issued cold wave warnings for Telangana, South Interior Karnataka, West Madhya Pradesh, and North Interior Karnataka on December 20 and 21. Scattered rain and snowfall are expected in the Western Himalayas over the next five days, with heavy rain or snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and nearby areas on December 21. Light rain is expected in Punjab from December 20 to 22. Authorities advise caution while traveling in fog and taking precautions against the cold.
