Makar Sankranti begins on chilly note as cold wave, dense fog prevail; IMD issues orange alert

PTC News Desk: As India celebrates Makar Sankranti on Wednesday, the festival will take place during an ongoing cold wave and widespread fog across northern India. However, weather experts say winter will now slowly start to weaken.

Makar Sankranti traditionally marks the end of the coldest part of winter as the Sun begins moving north. This year, the change will be gradual. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly after the next two nights, giving slow relief from the cold, but fog will continue to appear in the mornings.

In the mountains of North India, including the Western Himalayas, some clouds are expected on Sankranti and at night. A new western disturbance is likely to arrive on January 15, bringing a series of weather systems that could cause heavy snowfall in higher areas between January 15 and 30. But this snowfall will not affect Sankranti day.

In the plains, morning fog will be the main concern. Moderate to dense fog is expected in many parts of Punjab and northern Haryana, including Karnal, Ambala, Panchkula, and Chandigarh. Similar foggy conditions may also appear in northern Rajasthan and north-west Uttar Pradesh—places like Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Moradabad, Rampur, Saharanpur, Najibabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Bulandshahr. Visibility should improve by late morning, around 10–11 am.

Big cities such as Delhi, Jaipur, Bhopal, Lucknow, Patna, and Ranchi are not likely to see very dense fog, although light fog may appear for a short time. Local fog may also form around Gwalior, Bharatpur, and Agra.

So while Makar Sankranti will still feel wintry, temperatures are expected to slowly rise after midweek. The severe cold wave should ease soon, though foggy mornings will continue for now.