Weather Update: Dense Fog Disrupts Train Services But North Gets Relief From Cold Wave

The respite from the cold wave condition was due to a fresh western disturbance affecting northwest India.

People warm themselves in front of a fire

Source : Getty

In a huge relief to people living in North India, severe cold wave conditions abated from the region on Wednesday, but most places remained engulfed in a dense layer of fog leading to train delays due to poor visibility.

The respite from the cold wave was due to a fresh western disturbance affecting northwest India. "Cold wave conditions have abated from the plains in northwest India. No cold wave is predicted in the region for the next four days," said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in a statement

According to IMD's forecast for Wednesday, the minimum and maximum temperatures are likely to hover around 8 and 18 degrees Celsius, respectively. However, the IMD said dense to very dense fog and cold day conditions would prevail over many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday and would "gradually abate thereafter".

The entire North India is in the grip of a cold wave and dense fog, that is affecting visibility significantly, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Delhi

The national capital has so far seen close to 50 hours of dense fog in January, the maximum in the month since 2019, a senior India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said on Tuesday. Senior IMD scientist R K Jenamani also said the cold wave spell in Delhi in January this year was the longest in a decade. 

Foggy conditons in several parts of the country has caused train delays. Around 26 trains are running late in the Northern Railway region due to fog, as per ANI.

 

26 trains running late in the Northern Railway region due to fog. pic.twitter.com/VqkUyYdIft

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2023

On Monday, Delhi recorded its fifth consecutive cold wave day, which was the city’s longest streak in a decade. The city had last recorded five straight cold wave days in January 2013, according to the Hindustan Times report.

A severe cold wave is when the minimum temperature dips to 2 degrees Celsius or the departure from the normal is more than 6 degrees.

Delhi's primary weather station, the Safdarjung observatory, recorded a minimum temperature of 6.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. On Monday, the night temperature recorded was 3.8 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature settled at 18.7 degrees.

Uttar Pradesh

Several trains were reported to be running late in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur on Wednesday. According to officials, most trains were running late by six to seven hours.

"Around 5-6 trains were running late by 6-7 hours due to foggy conditions. Some trains were cancelled," said Vinod, a passenger at Kanpur Railway station.

"The passengers are either huddled in waiting rooms or around bonfires outside the Central station," said Ghanshyam another waiting for his train at the Kanpur railway station. 

The residents, however, experienced some respite from the intense cold wave as the minimum temperature rose by 3 degrees Celsius in the past 24 hours, even as dense fog continued to envelop the city. At 6.7 degrees Celsius, the minimum temperature recorded in Kanpur on Tuesday night was still a notch below the season's normal.

Haryana, Bihar & Rajasthan

Haryana's Narnaul saw the night temperature on Tuesday settle at 4.6 degrees, while Bhiwani recorded a minimum of 4.7 degrees Celsius. Kanpur in UP saw the minimum settle at 4.8 degrees Celsius. In Rajasthan's Churu, the minimum temperature dropped to 4.5 degrees Celsius, while it settled at 4.2 degrees in Alwar. The night temperature in Pachmarhi on Tuesday was 4.8 degrees Celsius, while Umaria saw the minimum settle at 4.7, according to IMD.

Haryana's Narnaul records a minimum temperature of 4.6 & Bhiwani 4.7 degrees Celsius. Kanpur in UP records 4.8 degrees Celsius. Rajasthan's Churu records a minimum temperature of 4.5 & Alwar 4.2 degrees Celsius. Temperature of 4.8 degrees Celsius in Pachmarhi & 4.7 in Umaria. pic.twitter.com/Aqhqx7NTTl

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2023

"Very dense fog observed in many places over Haryana; in some pockets over Punjab; in isolated pockets over West UP, West Rajasthan, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim; Dense fog in many places East UP and in some areas of Bihar," the IMD update read.

♦ Fog observed (at 0830 hours IST of Today): Very dense fog observed in many places over Haryana; in some pockets over Punjab; in isolated pockets over West UP, West Rajasthan, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim; Dense fog in many places East UP and in some areas of Bihar. pic.twitter.com/VEi0mIWShr

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) January 11, 2023

(With inputs from agencies)