River Water Freezes in Uttarakhand as Cold Wave Hits Plains and Mountains

January 13, 2026

Dehradun: River water has frozen in four districts of Uttarakhand. A thick layer of frost and ice is visible over the rivers. In the high-altitude areas of Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Rudraprayag, water falling from waterfalls is condensing into ice. Water pipelines in these areas have frozen.

Extreme Cold in Pilgrimage Sites

Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh and Kedarnath in Rudraprayag recorded temperatures of -16°C. Water there froze within moments. Meanwhile, temperatures at Yamunotri in Uttarkashi, Munsyari -6°C, Badrinath -14°C, Hemkund Sahib -5°C, and Harsil -11°C were recorded.

Dense Fog Affects Plains

According to the Meteorological Department, today, January 13th, fog will prevail in the lower areas of Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Champawat, Pauri, and Dehradun. A thick blanket of frost is also expected in the mountains. A cold day warning has also been issued for Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar.

Frost Blankets Mountains

These days, the weather in Uttarakhand remains dry. A dry cold wave is sweeping from the mountains to the plains. Frost in the mountainous regions has disrupted life, while dense fog in some parts of the plains has exacerbated the hardships. Bright sunshine during the day is providing some relief from the harsh cold, but the chill persists in the morning and evening.

Dry Cold Wave Persists Across Uttarakhand

At present, there is no possibility of a change in the weather in the state. A yellow alert has been issued regarding frost in the mountains and fog in the plains. Due to the influence of a western disturbance, rain and snowfall may occur in the mountains next Saturday.

Temperature of major cities on January 12 (in degrees Celsius)

Cold winds blowing in Almora

A thick blanket of frost was observed in Almora this morning, with temperatures hovering between 5 and 6 degrees Celsius. The effects of the cold are clearly felt in the hilly region. Clear and sunny weather during the day will bring maximum temperatures to 19 to 21 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature will hover around 4 to 5 degrees Celsius.

Light, cool winds are blowing in the area, clocking in at around 6 to 10 kilometers per hour. The chill is more pronounced in the morning and evening, forcing people to wear warm clothing.

Dense fog was seen in Khatima

Dense fog and a cold wave brought a chilly weather to Khatima this morning. The minimum temperature was around 6 degrees Celsius, making people feel the intense cold.

Due to fog, visibility in the area has reduced considerably, due to which vehicles plying on the roads have to be very cautious.

Weather Forecast: January 14–16