North India is currently gripped by a historic cold wave, with temperatures on January 13, 2026, plunging to their lowest levels in years. Clear skies over the plains have triggered an “inverse” weather pattern, making cities like Gurugram and Delhi significantly colder than Himalayan hill stations like Shimla.
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Also Read | NGT Declares Varanasi Tent Cities Illegal: ₹17.12 Lakh Fine Imposed on Ganga Violators
1. Temperature Records & “Deep Freeze” Cities
The night of January 12–13 was the coldest of the season for most of Northwest India.
| Location | Min Temp (°C) | Status/Record |
| Fatehpur (Rajasthan) | -1.9°C | Coldest in the plains |
| Gurugram (Haryana) | 0.6°C | 50-year record low; colder than Shimla (8.8°C) |
| Delhi (Safdarjung) | 3.0°C | Coldest January morning in 3 years |
| Bathinda (Punjab) | 0.6°C | Severe cold wave condition |
| Pulwama (Kashmir) | -6.5°C | Coldest in the Valley |
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2. The “Ground Frost” Phenomenon
For the second consecutive morning, residents in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Rewari reported widespread ground frost.
Visuals: Social media has been flooded with images of ice layers on vehicle windshields and a “white sheet” of frozen dew covering agricultural fields.
Why so cold? While clouds over the hills acted as a blanket to trap heat, clear skies over the NCR allowed terrestrial radiation to escape rapidly, causing the ground to freeze.
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3. Agricultural Impact: The Wheat vs. Vegetable Divide
The extreme cold is a “double-edged sword” for Indian farmers:
The Good: The frost is highly beneficial for the wheat crop, as the chill helps in better grain setting and tillering.
The Bad: Vegetable crops, particularly potatoes, mustard, peas, and radishes, are at high risk of “cold injury.”
Expert Advice: Scientists recommend light evening irrigation to increase soil temperature and protect sensitive crops from freezing.
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4. IMD Alerts & School Closures
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for Northwest India for the next 48 hours.
Delhi-NCR: Under an Orange Alert; severe cold wave and dense fog expected through Wednesday (January 14).
Schools: Chandigarh has extended winter vacations until January 17, 2026, for all government and private schools. Similar extensions are being considered in parts of Haryana and Punjab.
Health Warning: The IMD has specifically warned against ignoring “shivering,” noting it as the primary sign of hypothermia.
Also Read | NGT Declares Varanasi Tent Cities Illegal: ₹17.12 Lakh Fine Imposed on Ganga Violators
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