IMD warns of fresh winter spell from 27 Jan: snow in western Himalayas, rain and cold-wave pockets in plains
A new western disturbance is set to drive widespread rain and snowfall in the western Himalayan states from 27 January, while parts of the plains brace for thunderstorms, gusty winds, dense fog and isolated cold-wave conditions, the India Meteorological Department said in its latest all-India bulletin.
Winter system returns, impacts widen beyond the hills
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast an active spell of winter weather beginning Tuesday, 27 January 2026, affecting large parts of north, northwest and central India. In its all-India weather summary issued late on 26 January, IMD said a western disturbance will bring fairly widespread to widespread precipitation in the western Himalayan region, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over adjoining plains.
IMD expects fairly widespread to widespread rain and snow over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on 27 January, with activity continuing over Uttarakhand on 28 January as well. It also flagged the possibility of isolated heavy rain or snowfall in parts of these hill states on 27 January, which could temporarily disrupt road movement in higher reaches and cause local transport delays.
Storms, fog and cold pockets in the plains
The impact is not limited to the mountains. IMD said scattered to fairly widespread light-to-moderate rain is likely over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on 27 January, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. Similar stormy conditions are expected over parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, with isolated hailstorm risk flagged for several regions including west Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Cold-wave conditions are also likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, while cold-day conditions may prevail in parts of Himachal Pradesh. Dense fog is expected in pockets across the northern belt on select days, and IMD cautioned that visibility reductions can affect road, rail and aviation operations.
More unsettled weather later this week
IMD indicated that another western disturbance may approach northwest India from the night of 30 January, suggesting that intermittent precipitation and cloudiness could continue into the end of the month. Residents have been advised to monitor updated bulletins, plan travel conservatively in fog-prone hours and stay alert for rapidly changing conditions.