A thick blanket of fog has descended across large swathes of North India, significantly impacting visibility during the early morning hours. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dense to very dense fog conditions are currently prevailing over Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR, Punjab, and Haryana. The weather agency has indicated that these conditions are likely to persist for the next two to three days.
Meteorologists attribute the persistent fog to a combination of low wind speeds and clear skies at night. These factors trap moisture near the ground, creating hazardous conditions for commuters during the early hours. The IMD has advised travelers in affected states to exercise caution during night and morning journeys due to reduced visibility.
Cold Wave Grips Central India
While the north battles fog, Central and Western India are experiencing a sharp drop in temperatures. Cold wave-like conditions have been reported in several parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The IMD forecasts that this chill will likely continue until December 14, with no significant rise in minimum temperatures expected before then.
In Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal recorded minimum temperatures hovering around 6–7 degrees Celsius. Similarly, Indore and Pune in Maharashtra have witnessed some of the coldest mornings of the season so far. The sudden drop in mercury is attributed to dry north-westerly winds and rapid radiative cooling at night. The absence of cloud cover allows heat to escape quickly from the ground, keeping night temperatures consistently low.
Chill Extends to the South
The winter chill is not limited to the northern and central regions. Southern states are also feeling the impact, with interior parts of Karnataka and Telangana reporting colder nights. In Bengaluru, the minimum temperature has been recorded around 12 degrees Celsius, a trend expected to continue for the next few days.
Meanwhile, eastern states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of the Northeast have reported foggy mornings. However, the IMD has not issued any severe cold wave alerts for these regions at present.
The weather department has stated that no major rainfall activity is expected across most parts of the country in the coming days. The primary weather pattern remains dominated by dry, cold winds and fog formation in the plains.
