Rain greets Mumbai on New Year as Delhi records coldest December day in six years

India ushered in the New Year amid an intense winter spell, with large parts of the country reeling under cold wave conditions, dense fog and sharply falling temperatures, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

While Mumbai recorded light early-morning showers on the first day of 2026, Delhi saw its coldest December day in six years on New Year’s Eve. A severe cold wave also gripped Rajasthan, and schools were closed in Assam’s Guwahati after a sharp drop in daytime temperatures.

Delhi records coldest December day in six years

The national capital experienced an unusually cold end to 2025, with daytime temperatures on December 31 remaining well below seasonal norms. The IMD said “cold day” conditions — when both day and night temperatures stay significantly below average — are likely to persist into early January. Shallow fog reduced visibility across several parts of the city during evening hours, disrupting travel.

Jharkhand shivers as temperatures drop to 4°C

Eastern India remained under severe winter conditions, with Jharkhand witnessing dense fog and dangerously low visibility in several districts. Temperatures in some areas dipped close to 4 degrees Celsius, with the IMD attributing the chill to persistent north-westerly winds in the lower atmosphere.

Schools shut in Assam’s Guwahati

In the Northeast, authorities ordered a week-long closure of schools in Guwahati as daytime temperatures plunged. Cloudy skies, intermittent drizzle and cold air worsened living conditions, forcing residents to rely on wood fires and heavy winter clothing, PTI reported.

Mumbai gets light showers

Parts of Mumbai, including Walkeshwar and Lower Parel, received light showers, which helped reduce pollution levels, according to ANI.

Rajasthan, Punjab face biting cold

Rajasthan continued to record single-digit minimum temperatures, with Karauli emerging as the coldest location in the state. Several towns across eastern and northern Rajasthan reported sharp night-time chills, while Jaipur and Jodhpur also saw colder-than-usual nights. The IMD warned of dense to very dense fog across large parts of the state between January 1 and 3, potentially affecting road and rail traffic.

Punjab also remained in the grip of biting cold, with cities such as Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala recording low temperatures in the mid-single digits. Colder pockets were reported from Gurdaspur and Faridkot, while Chandigarh and adjoining parts of Haryana, including Rohtak and Narnaul, saw similarly chilly conditions.

Snow, fog in Darjeeling

West Bengal reported widespread cold, especially in sub-Himalayan districts. Light rain or snowfall was forecast in higher reaches, including Darjeeling, while fog is expected to persist across the state during morning hours for several days, the IMD said.

On a national scale, the IMD warned that cold wave and cold day conditions, along with dense to very dense fog, are likely to affect Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and parts of central and eastern India in the coming days. While a brief rise in minimum temperatures is possible, another dip is expected as cold northerly winds strengthen across the northern plains.

Authorities have urged people to exercise caution, particularly during early-morning and late-night travel, as winter conditions intensify.