Introduction
India cold wave alert January 2026: IMD has warned that cold wave to severe cold wave conditions will continue in several states, along with persistent dense fog in the northwest belt.
In Delhi, Safdarjung has been reported at 3.2°C, while Bathinda and Gurugram were reported at 0.6°C, showing how sharply temperatures have dipped across the plains.
IMD’s Latest Warning
In its 13 January 2026 (1320 IST) press release, IMD said cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely to continue over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha for the next 2–3 days, and abate thereafter.
On fog, IMD said dense fog is very likely to continue during morning hours over northwest India and Bihar for the next 5–6 days.
IMD also flagged that dense to very dense fog may prevail over parts of Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and Punjab (with a longer tail of “dense fog” risk in isolated pockets beyond that).
Delhi, Punjab, Haryana — How Cold Is It Right Now?
Delhi’s Safdarjung station has been widely reported at 3.2°C, among the city’s sharper January cold spells in recent years.
For Punjab and Haryana, Bathinda and Gurugram were reported at 0.6°C, with fog repeatedly bringing down visibility in parts of the region.
IMD’s own “realised weather” section also noted dense to very dense fog in multiple north/northwest pockets, including Punjab and parts of Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh, with several stations reporting extremely low visibility.
Snowfall & Rain Update — Fresh Western Disturbance Ahead
IMD said a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect the Western Himalayan region from the night of 15 January 2026.
Under its influence, IMD forecast light to moderate rain/snow over Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during 16–19 January, with isolated rainfall possible over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and West Uttar Pradesh on 18–19 January.
School Holidays & Closures — What’s Verified
- Delhi: Schools are closed as part of the declared winter vacation (Jan 1–15, 2026), as reported with reference to the DoE schedule.
- Punjab: Winter holidays in schools were extended till January 13, 2026, with reopening planned from January 14, as reported in state updates/coverage quoting the education minister’s announcement.
Note: Beyond these, timing changes/closures can be district-specific and should be attributed only to official local orders.
Key Highlights
- IMD warns cold wave to severe cold wave conditions in multiple states, with dense fog persisting across the northwest belt.
- A fresh Western Disturbance from Jan 15 night may bring rain/snow Jan 16–19 in the Western Himalayas; plains rain is possible Jan 18–19.
- Delhi Safdarjung reported 3.2°C; Bathinda/Gurugram reported 0.6°C, as fog continues to hit visibility and routines.
Local Impact (J&K-Specific)
IMD’s outlook includes a rain/snow window (Jan 16–19) across the Western Himalayan region, including the Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh sector.
IMD also flagged fog risk in isolated pockets over Jammu division during morning hours in this spell—important for early travel and highway visibility updates.
Conclusion
North India is in a tough winter stretch: cold wave conditions plus dense fog are disrupting daily life, and a Western Disturbance could change the pattern with rain/snow later this week.
KittoNews should refresh this story as IMD issues the next press release and as state/district administrations update school and travel advisories.
FAQs
A1: IMD says a fresh Western Disturbance from the night of Jan 15 may bring rain/snow over the Western Himalayas during Jan 16–19.
A2: Closures vary by state. Verified updates include Delhi’s winter vacation running till Jan 15 and Punjab’s winter holidays extended till Jan 13, as reported in official-schedule/coverage.
