Cold Wave to Grip 11 States in India, IMD Warns of Plummeting Temperatures

New Delhi — A bitter cold wave is sweeping across large parts of northern, central, and eastern India, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing widespread weather alerts as temperatures continue to fall sharply. The chilling conditions come with warnings of dense morning fog, travel disruptions, and risks to health and agriculture. 

According to recent forecasts, a cold wave is expected to affect up to 11 states and regions on Thursday and Friday. These include parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and Bihar, where minimum temperatures are dipping well below normal for this time of the year. 

In the northern plains and central regions, early‑morning temperatures have dropped to single digits in many cities. Nagpur recorded one of the coldest mornings of the season at 8°C, while cold wave conditions continue unabated across districts in Chhattisgarh, where readings of 4–9°C were recorded in villages and rural areas. 

The IMD has also highlighted the likelihood of dense fog during early morning hours in states including Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur, further complicating travel on roads and railways. Persistent cold combined with stagnant air is expected to keep air quality poor in some urban centres, especially in the northern plains

In Hyderabad and Telangana, the Meteorological Centre has extended cold wave advisories for several districts, predicting that minimum temperatures could fall 3–4°C below normal over the next few days. Areas such as Medak, Rangareddy, and Adilabad may experience plummeting nighttime lows, with some regions dipping close to 5–8°C.

Overall, the IMD forecasts that cold wave conditions will persist through mid‑December, with only a slight rise in temperatures expected after December 13. Residents in affected states are advised to take precautions to guard against cold‑related health issues, protect crops and livestock, and remain updated with local weather advisories from the meteorological department