IMD weather update today: In its latest IMD weather update today, the India Meteorological Department has flagged a prolonged spell of dense fog and cold wave conditions across large parts of North and adjoining Central and East India over the next few days. Visibility has dropped sharply in many states, disrupting road, rail and air traffic. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh continue to report sub-zero night temperatures, with light to moderate snowfall confined mainly to higher reaches while most plains stay dry but very cold.
- Key Highlights
- IMD weather update today: Main News Details
- Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: Sub-Zero Nights, Light Snow, Heavy Fog in Jammu
- Rest of India: Cold Wave, Dense Fog and Disruptions
- Official Statements and Forecasts
- Why This Matters for People in J&K and Across India
- FAQs on Today’s IMD Weather Update
- Disclaimer
- Also Read
Key Highlights
- IMD says dense to very dense fog is very likely during night and morning hours over parts of Northwest, adjoining Central, East and Northeast India for the next 4–5 days.
- Snowfall has been recorded at isolated places over Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim; light to moderate rain/snow is again forecast at isolated locations over J&K–Ladakh around 5–6 January.
- Minimum temperatures are below normal at many locations, with several stations in Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh dipping below 0°C, while much of the north Indian plains hover in the 3–8°C range.
- In Kashmir, Srinagar has been recording sub-zero minimums, while tourist resorts such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg are well below freezing after fresh snowfall; Jammu city and nearby plains are battling dense fog and transport delays.
- IMD’s extended fog and cold wave advisories warn of continued disruption to road, rail and air travel across key north Indian corridors in the coming days.
IMD weather update today: Main News Details
The India Meteorological Department’s all-India winter bulletin at the start of this week confirms that a persistent cold and fog phase is gripping much of the northern half of the country. IMD notes that dense to very dense fog is expected to continue during night and morning hours over parts of Northwest India, extending into adjoining Central, East and Northeast India for the next 4–5 days, as light winds and high humidity trap moisture near the surface.
According to IMD’s realised-weather and minimum-temperature analysis, temperatures are currently below normal by around 2–3°C at many locations. Several stations in Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh have dipped below the freezing mark, while much of the Indo-Gangetic plain is seeing early-morning minimums in the 3–8°C band.
IMD’s latest update also confirms that snowfall has been recorded at isolated places over Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim in the past 24 hours. The department expects isolated light to moderate rain or snow over Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh–Gilgit–Baltistan–Muzaffarabad around 5–6 January, and over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on 6 January, under the influence of western disturbances over the Western Himalayas.
At the same time, IMD’s warning map for the next few days does not show any major red or orange-level alert for heavy snowfall over Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, indicating that while it will stay very cold, the expected precipitation in most areas is light and manageable rather than extreme.
Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: Sub-Zero Nights, Light Snow, Heavy Fog in Jammu
On the ground, Jammu & Kashmir is firmly in the grip of Chillai Kalan, the harsh 40-day core of winter. Recent regional reports show Srinagar’s minimum temperature sliding well below freezing, with Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg recording significantly lower values after fresh snowfall. One detailed update notes that Srinagar has stayed below 0°C, while Gulmarg and Pahalgam have plunged to around –8°C and lower on some nights, keeping roads and meadows under a fresh snow cover.
Higher reaches around Gulmarg and parts of the Pir Panjal received a fresh spell of snow that slowed traffic on stretches such as the Gulmarg–Tangmarg road. In contrast, the main Valley plains have so far seen only light or no snowfall, even as they endure freezing nights and chilly days.
In the Jammu division, fog rather than snow is the main concern. Jammu city and surrounding plains in districts such as Samba and Kathua have been under a blanket of dense fog during morning hours, leading to reduced visibility on the Jammu–Pathankot and other key road corridors. Regional media report multiple flight delays at Jammu Airport and late-running trains, including premium services, as pilots and loco pilots wait for conditions to improve.
Ladakh is facing even harsher conditions. Recent reports say Leh has recorded minimum temperatures close to –10°C, with fresh snowfall forcing airlines to temporarily suspend flight operations at Leh airport on at least one day this week. Kargil and other high-altitude settlements have also seen the mercury plunge well below –8°C, placing Ladakh among the coldest inhabited regions of India at this time.
Rest of India: Cold Wave, Dense Fog and Disruptions
Beyond J&K and Ladakh, IMD’s advisories highlight an extended spell of cold wave, cold day and dense fog conditions over the broader North Indian belt. Recent IMD forecasts and media summaries indicate that:
- Cold wave / cold day conditions are likely at isolated places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and parts of East India on different days this week.
- Dense to very dense fog is set to persist over the Indo-Gangetic plains—especially Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar—during night and morning hours over the next 4–5 days, with some improvement expected only later in the week.
Business and national dailies report that this combination of low temperatures and thick fog has already triggered widespread disruptions, with dozens of trains running late and several flights delayed or diverted from key hubs in North India. IMD also expects minimum temperatures over Northwest and Central India to remain 2–4°C below normal in many pockets before gradually normalising.
In Delhi–NCR, the capital continues to see below-normal maximum temperatures, very poor air quality and recurring fog episodes, prompting health advisories for children, the elderly and people with respiratory or cardiac conditions.
Official Statements and Forecasts
An IMD press-style bulletin issued in early January states that dense fog conditions are very likely to continue during night and morning hours over parts of North and adjoining Central and East India for the next 4–5 days, reiterating that visibility may fall below 50 metres in some pockets during peak hours.
IMD’s realised-weather summary for the same period notes that “snowfall has been recorded at isolated places over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim” and that isolated light to moderate rain or snowfall is “very likely” over J&K–Ladakh on 5–6 January, and over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on 6 January.
The department also highlights that minimum temperature departures are below normal at many stations in Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh and across other parts of North, East and Central India, underscoring the breadth of the cold wave.
Local meteorological officials cited by Jammu-based media say that light snowfall may continue in higher reaches of Gulmarg, Tangmarg and parts of the Pir Panjal, while plains in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions are likely to remain mainly dry but cold during this phase.
Why This Matters for People in J&K and Across India
For residents of Jammu & Kashmir, the current IMD weather update today translates into:
- Very cold nights and chilly days during Chillai Kalan, especially in upper reaches of the Valley and in Ladakh, where temperatures stay well below freezing.
- A need for extra caution on key hilly roads such as the Jammu–Srinagar corridor and Gulmarg–Tangmarg, where fog, black ice or fresh snow can sharply reduce grip and visibility.
- Potential flight delays at airports like Jammu, Srinagar and Leh whenever dense fog or snowfall affects morning and evening schedules.
For the wider North Indian plains, a prolonged fog and cold-wave spell impacts:
- Road safety: Poor visibility on highways and city roads raises the risk of accidents and pile-ups, as seen in recent incidents in parts of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states.
- Rail and air operations: Repeated delays disrupt work, education and healthcare travel plans, especially for those who depend on long-distance trains and early-morning flights.
- Public health: Extended exposure to cold and polluted air can worsen respiratory and cardiac problems among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and outdoor workers like drivers, hawkers and construction staff.
Across J&K and North India, people are advised to follow IMD updates closely, avoid unnecessary early-morning travel in thick fog, dress in multiple warm layers, and take special care of children, senior citizens and those with pre-existing health issues.
FAQs on Today’s IMD Weather Update
IMD expects isolated light to moderate rain or snowfall over Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh on 5–6 January, mainly over higher reaches, while minimum temperatures remain below normal and sub-zero at several stations. No major red/orange heavy-snowfall warning is currently in force, but cold conditions will persist.
So far, IMD data and regional reports show that snowfall is mostly confined to higher reaches such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and parts of the Pir Panjal. The main Valley plains, including Srinagar, have remained largely dry but very cold, with only light precipitation possible at isolated locations in the short term.
IMD estimates that dense to very dense fog will continue during night and morning hours over parts of North, adjoining Central, East and Northeast India for the next 4–5 days, along with cold wave or cold day conditions in some states on specific days, before a gradual improvement.
Sub-zero minimum temperatures are being reported from several stations in Jammu–Kashmir–Ladakh and the Western Himalayan region. In the plains, the coldest readings are currently coming from pockets of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states, where early-morning temperatures have fallen to the low single digits. Hill resorts like Gulmarg and Pahalgam in J&K and locations in Ladakh such as Leh and Kargil remain far below freezing.
Travellers should check IMD advisories and airline/railway updates before starting, avoid speeding in fog, use fog lights where available, allow extra travel time, and carry warm clothing, hot drinks and basic medicines—especially on long road trips through hilly or high-altitude terrain. These precautions reflect guidance from IMD and local authorities after recent fog-related disruptions.
Disclaimer
Weather information in this article is based on official IMD bulletins and forecasts, along with coverage from reputable national and regional media, available as of 5–6 January 2026.
Forecasts can change quickly as new data arrives. Readers should always follow the latest advisories and warnings issued directly by the India Meteorological Department, local disaster-management authorities, state governments and traffic police before making travel or safety decisions. This article is for general information only and should not be treated as an official alert, legal advice or a substitute for real-time updates from authorities.
