The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a cold wave to severe cold wave conditions over Northwest India, including parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi.

"Cold Wave to severe cold wave conditions very likely over many parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi till January 17 and thereafter in isolated pockets on  January 18; cold wave condition in isolated pockets also very likely over Himachal Pradesh during January 16-18; over West Madhya Pradesh on January 16 and 17; over East Madhya Pradesh on January 17 and over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and Rajasthan on January 19," the weather office stated in its latest bulletin.

According to the bulletin, a further fall in minimum temperatures by about 2°C is very likely over many parts of Northwest and central India till January 17 and gradual rise by 3-5°C during January 18-20.  

Fall in minimum temperatures by 2-3°C is very likely over East India till January 17 and gradual rise by 2-3°C during January 18-20 while no significant change in minimum temperatures is very likely over Gujarat state by January 17 and rise by 2-3°C thereafter, it added.

The bulletin further stated that a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect Western Himalayan Region from the night of January 18. Under its influence, light/moderate isolated/scattered rainfall/snowfall over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand likely during January 18-20, it stated.

As per the bulletin, dense fog is very likely in isolated pockets during night and morning hours over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, north Rajasthan and north Uttar Pradesh during January 15-17; over Bihar during next five days; over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during January 15-17; over Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha on January 16-17 and over Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura during the next five days.