Introduction:
IMD’s press release dated January 13, 2026 (1320 IST) warns cold wave to severe cold wave conditions in several states for the next 2–3 days, while dense fog is likely over northwest India and Bihar for the next 5–6 days.
Visibility has already dropped sharply in multiple pockets, making early-morning road, rail and flight movement a key concern.
IMD’s Key Warning Zones Across India (Jan 13 Update)
As per IMD, cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely to continue over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha during the next 2–3 days, before easing.
- IMD’s Key Warning Zones Across India (Jan 13 Update)
- Dense Fog Belt (North + East) With Date-Wise Windows
- City Snapshot (Current Conditions Today)
- What’s Driving The Chill: Plains Hit 0°C, Visibility Crashes
- Local Impact Section (J&K-Specific)
- South India Watch (All-India Relevance)
- Travel & Safety Watch (Why This Alert Matters)
- Fishermen Advisory (Coastal Watch)
- Key Highlights / Summary Box
- Conclusion/Verdict
- FAQ Section
IMD also flagged cold day conditions in isolated pockets of Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh during the next 2 days.
Dense Fog Belt (North + East) With Date-Wise Windows
IMD says dense fog is very likely to continue during morning hours over northwest India and Bihar for the next 5–6 days.
Most affected fog-prone zones (IMD window):
- Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi + Punjab: dense to very dense fog till Jan 15; isolated dense fog till Jan 20
- West Uttar Pradesh: dense to very dense fog till Jan 19; isolated dense fog on Jan 20
- East Uttar Pradesh: isolated dense fog Jan 15–16; dense to very dense fog Jan 17–20
- Other pockets (morning hours): Jammu division & Himachal Pradesh till Jan 16; Uttarakhand till Jan 18; Bihar till Jan 17; Odisha till Jan 16; Sub-Himalayan WB & Sikkim Jan 16–18; Gangetic WB Jan 17–18; Assam & Meghalaya Jan 15–16
City Snapshot (Current Conditions Today)
A quick look at current conditions across major cities this afternoon/evening:
- Delhi: ~20°C
- Jaipur: ~21°C
- Lucknow: ~17°C
- Srinagar: ~12°C
- Mumbai: ~27°C
- Kolkata: ~23°C
- Chennai: ~28°C
- Bengaluru: ~25°C
- Hyderabad: ~29°C
- Ahmedabad: ~29°C
What’s Driving The Chill: Plains Hit 0°C, Visibility Crashes
IMD recorded the lowest minimum temperature over the plains of India at 0°C in Ballowal Saunkri (Punjab) during the past 24 hours (ending 0830 IST on Jan 13).
In the same period, IMD listed very low visibility readings, including Udhampur (0 m) and Amritsar (0 m), reflecting extremely dense fog at those stations.
Local Impact Section (J&K-Specific)
IMD’s visibility list included Udhampur at 0 metres, indicating extremely dense fog conditions at least at that station.
IMD also noted minimum temperatures below 0°C at many places over the Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh region (as part of its realised temperature summary).
What this means on the ground (J&K):
- Morning fog can disrupt highway and inter-district movement, especially during the warning window.
- Sub-zero nights raise the risk of icy patches in higher elevation belts.
South India Watch (All-India Relevance)
IMD reported heavy to very heavy rainfall (7–20 cm) at isolated places over Tamil Nadu in the past 24 hours.
It also said conditions are becoming favourable for cessation of Northeast monsoon rains over parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, Kerala & Mahe and adjoining areas during the next 3 days.
Travel & Safety Watch (Why This Alert Matters)
IMD’s impact note warns dense/very dense fog may affect airports, highways and railway routes, and can lead to difficult driving conditions with slower journeys.
Fishermen Advisory (Coastal Watch)
IMD advised fishermen not to venture into specified sea areas during Jan 13–18, 2026, including:
- Gulf of Mannar: Jan 13
- Some parts of Comorin area: Jan 13–14
Key Highlights / Summary Box
Cold wave to severe cold wave likely over HP, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha for next 2–3 days.
Dense fog likely over northwest India + Bihar for next 5–6 days, with date-wise windows for Delhi-NCR and UP.
IMD logged 0°C (plains lowest) and listed 0 m visibility at stations including Udhampur.
Conclusion/Verdict
India’s winter pattern is showing a split: cold wave conditions and intense fog across parts of the north and east, while rainfall activity still features in the south.
Stay tuned for more updates from KittoNews.
FAQ Section
A1: IMD’s Jan 13 (1320 IST) press release warns cold wave to severe cold wave conditions over several states for 2–3 days and dense fog over northwest India and Bihar for 5–6 days.
A2: IMD lists dense to very dense fog risk across Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh with date-wise windows, plus fog likely in pockets across Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and parts of east/northeast India on specified dates.
