Winter is here! IMD issues cold wave warning in Delhi; snowfall in Arunachal Pradesh, J&K till Dec 18

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released a series of weather alerts affecting large parts of the country from December 13 to 18, including cold waves, dense fog, snowfall and thunderstorms.

Cold wave and dense fog alerts

Cold wave conditions are expected at isolated locations in Telangana and interior Karnataka on December 14‑15, and in Chhattisgarh and Odisha on December 14. North interior Karnataka may experience severe cold wave conditions on December 14.

Eastern Uttar Pradesh is likely to see dense fog in the mornings from December 14‑16, with very dense fog on the 14th and 15th. Isolated pockets of western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi may also encounter dense fog on December 15‑16.

Snowfall and rain in the Himalayas

Light rain or snowfall is forecast for isolated locations across the Western Himalayan region—including Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit‑Baltistan and Muzaffarabad—from December 14‑18. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand may see similar conditions on December 14, while Arunachal Pradesh is likely to receive snowfall between December 15‑17.

Thunderstorms in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Isolated places over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are very likely to experience thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30‑40 kmph from December 13‑15.

Delhi’s weather today

The capital is expected to have a partly cloudy sky with moderate fog in the morning. Temperatures will range between 23 °C and 25 °C at the maximum and 9 °C to 11 °C at the minimum.

Air‑quality response in Delhi‑NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage IV of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), banning all construction and demolition activities in Delhi‑NCR after pollution levels rose sharply amid unfavourable meteorological conditions. Earlier in the day the sub‑committee had already moved to Stage III across the entire NCR, and an urgent meeting at 6.30 pm reviewed the situation alongside IMD and IITM forecasts.

Northeastern states

Dense fog is very likely during morning hours in isolated areas of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura from December 14‑18. Similar fog conditions are expected in Assam and Meghalaya, as well as western Uttar Pradesh, from December 14‑16, and in Himachal Pradesh on December 14.

Fishermen warning

Fishermen have been advised to avoid the Gulf of Mannar and the adjoining Comorin region in the Bay of Bengal between December 13‑16, and to stay clear of designated zones from December 13‑18.

Did You Know? The IMD issued both cold‑wave and dense‑fog warnings simultaneously for multiple regions, a combination that can compound travel disruptions and health risks.
Expert Insight: The convergence of cold waves, fog and thunderstorms across disparate zones is likely to worsen air‑quality challenges, especially in Delhi where the GRAP has already escalated to its strictest stage, potentially prompting further restrictions if pollution continues to rise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states are under cold‑wave warnings?

Cold‑wave conditions are expected in isolated locations of Telangana, interior Karnataka (December 14‑15), Chhattisgarh and Odisha (December 14), with severe cold wave possible in north interior Karnataka on December 14.

What is the weather forecast for Delhi today?

Delhi will see partly cloudy skies with moderate morning fog, a maximum temperature between 23 °C and 25 °C, and a minimum temperature between 9 °C and 11 °C.

What actions has the CAQM taken in response to rising pollution?

The CAQM invoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan, banning all construction and demolition activities in Delhi‑NCR, after earlier invoking Stage III across the entire NCR as air quality deteriorated.

How will these weather conditions affect daily life in the affected regions?

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