The plains of northwest India experienced unusually cold conditions on Monday, with minimum temperatures in major cities dropping below levels recorded in many popular hill stations, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported. Delhi, Hissar, Amritsar, Churu, Karnal, and Meerut all recorded temperatures significantly lower than Mussoorie and Shimla, demonstrating a rare inversion in expected winter temperature patterns.

According to IMD data, Delhi’s Safdarjung Observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 3.2°C, Hissar saw 2.6°C, Amritsar dipped to 1.1°C, Churu recorded 1.3°C, Karnal was at 3.5°C, and Meerut registered 4.5°C. In contrast, the hill stations, which usually experience colder conditions than the plains, recorded higher minimums: Mussoorie saw 7.7°Cand Shimla 8.8°C. This reversal of temperatures, where the plains were colder than the hills, has been attributed primarily to cloud cover over the hilly regions, which prevents heat accumulated during the day from escaping into the night sky.

M Mohapatra, Director General of IMD, explained the phenomenon, noting, “A western disturbance is impacting the upper reaches of the hills, resulting in cloudy nights. This is why minimum temperatures are higher over the hills despite their elevation.” Western disturbances—low-pressure systems originating from the Mediterranean region—typically bring moisture, snowfall, and cold winds to the Himalayas. When these systems pass over the mountains, they create cloud cover that traps heat, leading to warmer nights compared to the often clear, cloudless plains.

The cold spell over northwest India is expected to persist for the next few days. The IMD has forecast cold wave to severe cold wave conditions over Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand for the next two to three days. These conditions may gradually abate afterward, but residents should continue to brace for chilly mornings and evenings in the immediate term.

Dense fog, another hallmark of winter in the Indo-Gangetic plains, is also expected to continue during morning hours across northwest India and Bihar over the next five days. The fog is likely to be thick in isolated pockets, reducing visibility and impacting road and rail traffic. In addition, the IMD has warned of cold day to severe cold day conditionsin isolated areas of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and western Rajasthan during the next two days, emphasizing the health and logistical challenges posed by persistent low temperatures.

Meteorological officials cited several atmospheric factors contributing to the unusual temperature patterns. At present, an upper air cyclonic circulation is located over the Comorin area in the lower troposphere, while a subtropical westerly jet stream, with core winds of approximately 185 kmph at 12.6 km above mean sea level, is prevailing over northeast India. Meanwhile, a western disturbance is impacting the Western Himalayan region, and another upper air cyclonic circulation is lying over north Haryana and surrounding areas.

Looking ahead, the IMD expects a fresh western disturbance to affect the Western Himalayan region from January 15. This system is anticipated to bring relief to the current dry spell, potentially altering temperature and precipitation patterns across the region. However, no significant change in minimum temperatures is expected over northwest India for the next three days, with a gradual rise of 2–4°C forecast during the subsequent four days. Ground frost conditions are also likely in isolated pockets of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan, adding to the winter severity.

The extreme cold in the plains comes against the backdrop of one of northwest India’s driest winters on record. According to reports from January 11, the region experienced an 84.8% rainfall deficiency in December 2025 and an 84% deficiency in the first ten days of January 2026, leaving hills parched and snow-starved during what is normally the peak winter season. This unprecedented dry spell has created near-drought conditions across the Western Himalayas, with even higher reaches of Uttarakhand recording no snowfall so far in January—a rare occurrence for this time of year.

Experts have noted that the dry spell was largely caused by western disturbances bypassing the region entirely, preventing the usual winter precipitation that replenishes water bodies and snowpacks. In normal years, these disturbances bring scattered rain and snow to the Western Himalayas, helping maintain ecological balance and supporting winter tourism. The lack of such disturbances has left hill regions unusually dry, impacting local agriculture, river flow, and soil moisture levels.

The current western disturbance, affecting the upper reaches of the Himalayas, is expected to break this dry spell. Officials anticipate that snowfall and rain associated with the system will not only improve ground moisture but also moderate the extreme cold conditions in the plains to some extent. Residents in hill towns like Mussoorie and Shimla may witness higher cloud cover and occasional light snowfall in the coming days, while plains cities may continue to experience fog, frost, and severe cold until the system settles in.

From a meteorological perspective, the unusual phenomenon of plains being colder than hills is primarily a result of thermal inversion, a condition where the normal temperature profile is reversed. Typically, temperatures drop as altitude increases; however, in cases of inversion, cooler air becomes trapped near the ground under a layer of warmer air above, often exacerbated by clear skies, low wind speeds, and radiative cooling. In the current scenario, cloud cover over the hills and clear, dry conditions in the plains have intensified this inversion, resulting in lower minimum temperatures in cities like Delhi and Hissar compared to Mussoorie and Shimla.

Public safety advisories have been issued in response to these extreme conditions. The IMD has urged residents to take precautions against frostbite, cold-related illnesses, and vehicular accidents due to reduced visibility caused by fog. Health experts recommend avoiding prolonged exposure to cold, wearing layered clothing, and ensuring that vulnerable groups, particularly children and the elderly, are adequately protected. Agricultural authorities have also warned farmers to shield crops from frost and to ensure livestock are adequately sheltered, particularly in northern plains and hill valleys.

The unusual weather pattern has also caught the attention of environmental scientists and climatologists, who note that such extremes—cold waves in the plains combined with near-drought conditions in the hills—may be increasingly frequent due to changing climatic patterns in the Indian subcontinent. While western disturbances are natural winter phenomena, their erratic behavior and the resulting temperature and precipitation anomalies are being closely monitored as part of broader climate research.

In conclusion, the current winter scenario in northwest India highlights the interplay of atmospheric dynamics, topography, and climate variability. Delhi, Hissar, Amritsar, and other plains cities enduring severe cold, coupled with drier-than-usual conditions in the hills, underscores the complexities of weather forecasting in the region. The IMD has provided clear guidance that the cold wave and fog are likely to persist in the short term, while a fresh western disturbance from January 15 is expected to bring some relief. Residents are advised to stay alert to forecasts and advisories, as extreme cold and fog will continue to challenge daily life and transportation across northwest India.