IMD issues dense fog, cold wave alerts for several states; check full list

A slight improvement in Delhi's air quality was also observed on Saturday

A blanket of fog enveloped Delhi on Saturday morning as the minimum temperature dipped to 7.6 degrees Celsius, slightly below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

A slight improvement in Delhi's air quality was also observed on Saturday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping from 429 to 392, still falling within the 'very poor' category, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

IMD issues cold wave, fog warning in several states

IMD, in its latest bulletin, has issued cold wave and dense fog warning for several states. It forecasts that Himachal Pradesh will experience cold to severe cold wave conditions till December 24. “Cold wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets over Himachal Pradesh on 25th and 26th, Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad during 20th-26th, Punjab and Rajasthan on 20th & 21st, Saurashtra and Kutch on 20th December,” the weather department said.

It has also issued warning for dense fog conditions in several states. Dense fog conditions are very likely to prevail during late night/early morning hours in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh, East Rajasthan and Jharkhand till 22nd, Punjab, Haryana, Assam and Meghalaya during 22nd-25th, West Bengal, Sikkim and Bihar on 21st and 22nd December, IMD said in its bulletin.

Currently no snowfall is expected in Himachal Pradesh as dry weather will prevail, however, IMD has predicted that an active western disturbance will bring wintry conditions to the region around December 27 and 28, likely leading to snowfall in higher-altitude areas.

Shobhit Katiyar, Senior Scientist at IMD Himachal Pradesh, said, “An active western disturbance is projected to affect Himachal Pradesh on December 27 and 28, likely causing snowfall in higher-altitude areas and light to moderate rain in lower and mid-hill regions," as quoted by news agency ANI.