Dehradun: Six districts in Uttarakhand are under an orange alert for cold weather today, December 26th, including Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Champawat, Dehradun, and Pauri Garhwal. Dense fog is also expected in these districts.
Rain and Snow Expected in Hilly Districts
Meanwhile, rain and snowfall are expected in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and areas with elevations of 3,500 meters or higher. This will have a direct impact on temperatures across the state.
While the New Year’s Eve is expected to bring the gift of rain and snow, light rain and snowfall are expected in the mountainous districts on December 30th and 31st, the weather in the plains will remain dry.
IMD warns of dense to very dense fog
The Meteorological Department has warned of dense to very dense fog and cold conditions, ranging from a cold day to a severe cold day, in the plains of Haridwar, Dehradun, Pauri, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, and Champawat. Elderly people, children, and the sick are advised to stay indoors and wear warm clothing to protect themselves from the cold.
The administration has issued instructions to keep a special eye on traffic and health services.
The temperature is continuously falling
According to the International Medical Center (IMD), the minimum temperature in Dehradun will be around 7.8 degrees Celsius, while night temperatures in the plains could drop even lower. Frost and cold winds are making the hilly areas more chilly. Even during the day, the weak sunlight will make the feeling of cold persist.
Temperature of major cities (in degrees Celsius)
| City | Maximum Temperature | Minimum Temperature |
| Dehradun | 18.0 | 7.8 |
| Pantnagar | 20.2 | 7.2 |
| Mukteshwar | 19.6 | 4.7 |
| Tehri | 18.0 | 4.6 |
Security and public life affected
Dense fog and frost are likely to disrupt road, rail, and air traffic. Drivers have been advised to use fog lights and avoid unnecessary travel in the morning and evening. Authorities are closely monitoring traffic and health services in both plain and hilly districts.
Due to the weakening of the western disturbance in Uttarakhand, there has been no rain for nearly 50 days. This lack of rain has affected life in the hilly districts. This has also directly affected the mountain herbs.
Due to the dry weather, tourists visiting Uttarakhand in winter are deprived of the snow. Due to these reasons, the tourist footfall in Uttarakhand is also lower this year compared to previous years.
The last rain occurred on November 4.
2025 is coming to an end, and the new year is just around the corner. Every year, between December 25th and January 1st, a large number of tourists visit Uttarakhand to enjoy the snowfall. However, Uttarakhand has not seen any rain since November 4th. The last rainfall was seen in Kedarnath on November 4th.
Since then, there has been no snowfall or rain anywhere. Dr. Chandra Singh Tomar, director of the Meteorological Center, said that due to the western disturbance’s lesser impact on Uttarakhand compared to other northern regions, there is no rain or snowfall here.
Chances of rain and snowfall from December 26
The Director of the Meteorological Center has predicted that light rain and snowfall is likely in Uttarakhand’s hilly districts of Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Rudraprayag from December 26 to 29. Cold days and dense fog will prevail in the plains of Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun, Pauri, and Champawat during this period.