Cold wave alert: Chilling winter to persist in Delhi, Rajasthan and other states till 9 January; check full IMD forecast

Chilling winter conditions over Northern and Central Indian states are expected to persist in states like Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, and others until at least 9 January, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weather agency has predicted a gradual fall in minimum temperatures by 2-3°C over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during the next two days and no significant change thereafter for the next five days.

IMD cold wave alert

In the latest bulletin, IMD predicted cold day to severe cold day conditions in isolated pockets over Rajasthan on 7 January.

The weather agency said cold wave conditions are “very likely” in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi till 9 January; Rajasthan till 11 January; Chhattisgarh till 8 January.

IMD scientist Radheshyam Sharma told ANI that in Rajasthan, daytime temperature is dropping by 5-8 degrees Celsius. “Cold wave conditions and dense fog prevail in most parts of the state...”

“Cold wave conditions very likely over Odisha during 07th-09th; Madhya Pradesh on 7th & 8th, Vidarbha, Jharkhand during 06th-08th January 2026,” the IMD added in a tweet.

The IMD has issued a cold wave alert for Jharkhand till 7 January. A PTI report said a ‘yellow’ alert was issued for Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla and Chatra districts.

In Tripura, the IMD Agartala predicted a dip in the minimum temperature over the next three to five days and issued a fog warning. According to ANI, the Tripura government ordered the closure of schools in the state from 6 January to 10 due to extreme cold.

The weather agency said chilly weather will intensify across southern West Bengal over the next two days. A PTI report, quoting the IMD, said the cold wave conditions are likely to deepen further in the southern districts of the state, with the mercury expected to fall by another 2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday.

IMD also forecasted ground frost conditions in isolated pockets over Uttarakhand till 7 January.

IMD fog warning

The Meteorological Department issued a “dense to very dense” fog alert during the morning hours in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh until 10 January, and in East Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh until 8 January.

The IMD also said that dense fog conditions are likely during morning hours in isolated pockets over Uttarakhand and Rajasthan till 8 January; West Uttar Pradesh till 9 January; Himachal Pradesh till 10 January; East Uttar Pradesh during 9 to 12 January; Chhattisgarh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Odisha till 7 January; Bihar till 12 January.

In the Northeast, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are likely to experience dense fog conditions until 10 January.