New Delhi, November 17, 2025 – A biting cold wave has tightened its hold over northern and central India, plunging temperatures to multi-year lows and enveloping major cities in thick fog that has crippled visibility and transportation. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued stern warnings of severe cold wave conditions persisting through the week, particularly in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, as Delhi records its chilliest November morning in three years amid soaring air pollution levels.
#### Fog and Chill Disrupt Daily Life in Delhi-NCR, Haryana, and Punjab
Delhi awoke to a hazy shroud this morning, with shallow to moderate fog reported at most places, reducing visibility to under 200 meters on key highways like the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and NH-44. The mercury dipped to a bone-chilling 9°C—the lowest for a November morning since 2022—leaving residents bundled up against the unseasonal freeze. Air quality plummeted further, with the city's average AQI surging to 427 in the 'severe' category, exacerbated by stagnant winds and the fog trapping pollutants from stubble burning in neighboring Punjab and Haryana.
In Haryana, dense fog delayed over 50 flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport and caused multiple pile-ups on the Yamuna Expressway, where visibility dropped to 50 meters in patches near Faridabad. Punjab's Amritsar and Ludhiana fared no better, with early morning fog grounding trains and prompting school timings to be adjusted in districts like Patiala. "The cold is sharper than usual this early in the season; farmers are worried about frost damaging winter crops," said a local agriculturist in Ambala, Haryana.
The IMD attributes the fog to clear skies allowing rapid nighttime cooling, combined with high moisture from recent western disturbances, forecasting similar conditions to linger until November 19. No respite from rain is expected in the next six days, prolonging the smog crisis and keeping GRAP Stage III restrictions in force across the NCR.
#### IMD's Red Flags: Severe Cold Wave Looms Over Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
Central India is bracing for the harshest impacts, with the IMD predicting cold wave to severe cold wave conditions over some parts of West Madhya Pradesh today and extending to isolated pockets of East Madhya Pradesh through November 19. Temperatures in Bhopal and Indore have already plummeted to 10-12°C, with Gwalior recording a low of 8.5°C overnight—well below the seasonal norm.
Rajasthan's eastern belts, including Jaipur and Kota, are under alert for isolated severe cold spells on November 17 and 18, driven by northerly winds sweeping in from the Himalayas. Fatehpur in Sikar district logged the state's lowest at 7.2°C, prompting district administrations to distribute woolens to the homeless and advise against outdoor activities for the elderly and children. "This early cold wave is unusual; it could hit rabi sowing hard if it intensifies," warned an IMD official in a press briefing.
Broader forecasts indicate the cold wave rippling into Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Maharashtra, with minimums expected to hover 4-6°C below normal until the weekend. Isolated thunderstorms may offer brief relief in western Rajasthan by November 18, but overall, the region faces a prolonged chill.
#### Impacts and Response: From Flight Delays to Health Alerts
The weather onslaught has cascaded into widespread disruptions: Over 100 flights were diverted or delayed at Delhi's airports, while northern railways reported 20-hour backlogs on the Delhi-Amritsar route. In Madhya Pradesh, rural schools in Sheopur and Barwani districts announced half-days, echoing closures in fog-hit Punjab pockets.
Health experts have sounded alarms on respiratory risks, with Delhi hospitals noting a 30% spike in cases of bronchitis and asthma amid the toxic fog. The Commission for Air Quality Management urged stricter enforcement of construction bans and vehicle rationing under GRAP protocols.
Union Minister of Earth Sciences Ashwini Vaishnaw tweeted assurances of coordinated central aid, including fog lamps for highways and thermal shelters in vulnerable areas. Meanwhile, IMD's extended outlook hints at gradual easing post-November 20, as a weak western disturbance brings light showers to the northwest.
As North India hunkers down against the frosty siege, meteorologists emphasize preparedness: "Layer up, stay indoors during peak fog hours, and monitor local alerts—this cold wave is a harbinger of a harsh winter ahead."
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