Bitter Cold, Dense Fog Grip Uttar Pradesh as Temperatures Dip Below Hill Stations

January 1, 2026

Uttar Pradesh began the new year with a bitterly cold start. Snowfall in the mountains caused the minimum night temperature to drop to 3 degrees Celsius for the first time this season.

UP Colder Than Shimla and Manali, Says IMD

According to the Meteorological Department, the state’s temperatures were even lower than hill stations like Shimla and Manali.

Rain Likely in 14 Western UP Districts

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has predicted rain today in 14 districts of western Uttar Pradesh, including Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Noida. A warning of dense fog has been issued for the entire state for the next seven days.

Visibility Drops to Near Zero in Several Districts

During this period, visibility may be extremely low during the morning and night hours. People have been advised to remain vigilant and avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary.

Earlier, on the first morning of the New Year, dense fog enveloped 35 districts, including Prayagraj, Kashi, Jhansi, Noida, and Ghaziabad. Visibility dropped to zero to 10 meters in many areas.

Train and Flight Services Disrupted Due to Fog

Due to the fog, more than 100 trains were delayed in cities including Lucknow and Gorakhpur. More than 10 flights were cancelled, while many others were delayed.

Schools Reopen with Revised Timings

Meanwhile, school holidays in the state are ending today. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced the holiday on December 29th. Starting tomorrow, all secondary schools will reopen with revised timings from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Additionally, primary schools have been closed until January 14th.

Cold Conditions Persisted on Year’s Last Day

Earlier, the last day of the year, Wednesday, was also bitterly cold. Fog enveloped more than 50 districts, including Lucknow, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Kanpur, and Gorakhpur, from early morning. The final sunset of the year was witnessed amidst fog and mist. Kanpur was the coldest place in Uttar Pradesh, recording a minimum temperature of 4.6 degrees Celsius.