Jaipur/Agra, January 3, 2026: A severe cold wave accompanied by dense fog has engulfed large parts of northern India, significantly disrupting daily life and travel, with the Meteorological Department forecasting further deterioration in weather conditions over the next few days.
Across Rajasthan, dense fog has reduced visibility to as low as 50 meters in districts including Jaipur, Bikaner and Bharatpur, causing traffic disruptions on major highways and affecting road travel. In Jaipur, while early morning temperatures hovered around 11.8°C, the mercury is expected to fall to around 8°C or lower by Saturday night as the cold wave intensifies.
In addition to fog, parts of the state have also recorded isolated rainfall and thunderstorms as an active western disturbance moves across the region. Light rain was witnessed in areas such as Nainwa in Bundi district, while Sirohi reported one of the lowest minimum temperatures at around 7.2°C.
Meanwhile in Uttar Pradesh, cities such as Agra and Kanpur are facing similar winter harshness. The iconic Taj Mahal has been enveloped in fog, with cold wave conditions persisting and visibility remaining poor during early morning hours.
In Kanpur and its surrounding divisions, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dense to very dense fog and severe cold wave conditions until January 4, with visibility often near zero on major roads, substantially slowing travel. The region has also reported rising health concerns due to the biting cold, including a surge in cold-related medical cases.
The IMD has extended cold wave and fog alerts across several northern states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and adjoining regions, warning residents to take necessary precautions as low temperatures and poor visibility persist.
With dense fog expected to linger into the weekend, authorities are urging commuters to exercise caution while driving, allow extra travel time, and regularly check updates on train and flight operations, which are likely to be affected by poor visibility.