Since Thursday night, a dense layer of fog stretching from Punjab to West Bengal has significantly reduced visibility across the Indo-Gangetic plains, causing major disruptions in road and rail transportation. Satellite images from Thursday evening revealed the development of this fog over Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan, and west Uttar Pradesh.

latest weather forecast

Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported dense to very dense fog in several regions, including Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Tripura. Meanwhile, moderate fog affected areas in Uttarakhand, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha. By early Friday morning, visibility levels had drastically dropped, with zero meters reported in Bathinda and Bikaner, and limited visibility in other major cities.

Train Delays due to fog

The Indian Railways confirmed that 22 trains bound for Delhi faced delays of up to six and a half hours due to the foggy conditions. Air traffic wasn’t spared either, with visibility at the Amritsar airport dropping to zero meters by Thursday evening. The situation at the Palam Observatory near the Indira Gandhi International Airport was similar, with visibility decreasing sharply overnight.

foggy weather

This foggy weather, typical of early mornings in north and northeast India since late December, has been attributed to the absence of active western disturbances (WDs). These weather systems, which originate in the Mediterranean region, usually bring unseasonal rainfall to northwest India and help dissipate fog. However, this winter, the region has seen fewer WDs, affecting the climatic conditions.

IMD scientists, including Naresh Kumar, Krishna Mishra, and R K Jenamani, have explained that fog formation requires specific conditions. weak low-level winds, moisture, and low temperatures. The absence of active WDs, characterized by strong winds and precipitation, is a key factor in the current situation. Moreover, temperatures have been consistently below normal since late December, contributing to the persistence of fog.

imd issues orange alert

The scientists also point to the role of strong jet streams and prevailing El-Nino conditions in this severe weather. The jet streams, bands of strong wind, have been prevalent over north India and are causing cold air subsidence, leading to cold wave conditions. El-Nino, characterized by the abnormal warming of Pacific Ocean waters, is also influencing the weather patterns, leading to fewer cold wave days in north India.

The IMD forecasts that dense to very dense fog will continue to affect north India for the next few days. Visibility classifications by the IMD range from “very dense” for 0-50 meters visibility to “shallow” for 501-1000 meters. The Met Office also defines “cold wave” and “severe cold wave” conditions based on minimum temperature thresholds and deviations from normal temperatures.

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