India is bracing for several days of dense fog, severe cold, and cold wave conditions across north and central regions, while southern states are likely to experience heavy rain and rough seas due to a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Dense Fog Warnings

The IMD has issued advisories for dense to very dense fog in northwest India and Bihar for the next 5–7 days. The fog is expected during morning hours, severely affecting visibility and daily movement.

Regions likely affected include:

• Northwest India and Bihar: Dense to very dense fog in phases till mid-January.
• Central India, Northeast India, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim: Dense fog expected for 2–3 days.

In the past 24 hours, visibility dropped below 50 metres in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam. Bareilly, Prayagraj, Kanpur, and Varanasi recorded near-zero visibility.

Cold Day and Cold Wave Alerts

The IMD has issued alerts for cold day conditions in isolated pockets of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Chandigarh, Rajasthan, East Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.

Cold wave conditions are very likely in:

• Himachal Pradesh
• Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh
• Rajasthan
• East Madhya Pradesh
• Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha
• North Interior Karnataka

Severe cold wave conditions have already been reported in Himachal Pradesh, and ground frost has been observed in isolated areas of Uttarakhand.

Temperature Highlights:

• Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh saw minimum temperatures drop below 0°C.
• The lowest temperature on the plains was 2.5°C in Sikar, Rajasthan.
• Many regions experienced temperatures 3–5°C below normal.

The IMD forecasts no significant change in minimum temperatures for northwest and east India over the next week, while central India and Maharashtra may see a gradual rise of 2–3°C.

Heavy Rain in Southern States

A deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal is moving west-northwest and is expected to cross the Sri Lanka coast on January 9. Under its influence:

• Tamil Nadu: Heavy to very heavy rainfall expected on January 9–10.
• Kerala: Heavy rainfall on January 10.
• Thunderstorms and lightning possible at isolated places.

Wind and Sea Warnings

Fishermen have been warned of strong winds and rough seas over the following areas:

• Southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal
• Sri Lanka coast, Gulf of Mannar, and Comorin area
• Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coast

Wind speeds may reach 50–60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph. Sea conditions are expected to remain rough to very rough until January 10, and fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea.

Summary

North India can expect several foggy, freezing mornings with persistent cold waves, while central India will gradually warm slightly. Meanwhile, southern states should prepare for heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and turbulent sea conditions over the next few days. Residents and travellers are advised to exercise caution, especially in fog-affected areas, and follow official safety advisories.