Chilly start to New Year 2026: Mumbai sees rains, Delhi likely to follow

New Delhi: India rang in the New Year amid an intense winter spell, with large swathes of the country experiencing cold wave conditions, dense fog, and plummeting temperatures.

Cold conditions and chilly winds continue to sweep Delhi-NCR on New Year Day on Thursday. In several parts of the region, dense fog prevailed. For some days now, sunshine has remained elusive during the day. According to Meteorological department, the national capital is likely witness the season’s first rainfall on January 1 under the influence of a western disturbance affecting north India. The cold wave is expected to continue.

According to the Meteorological Department, a cyclonic circulation is active over Punjab and Haryana, creating a chance of very light or isolated rainfall in Delhi and the NCR on New Year’s Day. If it occurs, this would mark the first rainfall of the season. A cold wave may sweep the national capital from January 3, with minimum temperatures likely to fall below five degrees Celsius. Cold northerly winds from the Himalayan region are also expected to move towards the capital, intensifying the chill.

The national capital recorded its coldest December day in six years on Wednesday, with daytime temperatures hardly rising and remaining below seasonal averages. Shallow fog reduced visibility in several parts of the city during the evening hours, impacting travellers.

Apart from the cold, the Air Quality Index (AQI) continued to hover in the 'very poor' category in Delhi-NCR.

Mumbai witnessed some early morning showers on the first day of the New Year 2026. Mumbai's Walkeshwar and Lower Parel areas witnessed light showers, that brought air pollution levels down. With the light showers, mercury also saw a sharp drop amid the cloudy conditions. The IMD has not issued any adverse weather warning for Mumbai.

In Mumbai, air quality largely remained in the moderate range, and the light rain offered temporary relief. Some areas of the city continued to record high pollution levels.

Rajasthan continued to shiver under biting night-time cold, with Karauli emerging as the coldest place in the state as temperatures dropped close to the season’s lowest levels, reflecting the increasing intensity of winter across the desert state, PTI reported.

A number of towns across eastern and northern Rajasthan registered single-digit minimum temperatures, while Jaipur and Jodhpur also experienced colder-than-usual nights. It is expected that thick fog will blanket large parts of northern, western and eastern Rajasthan between January 1 and 3.

Jharkhand remained on dense fog warning, with visibility dropping to dangerously low levels in several districts, while temperatures in some pockets plunging to around 4 degrees Celsius, an IMD bulletin said. Meteorologists attributed the situation to persistent north-westerly winds prevailing in the lower atmosphere.

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Guwahati witnessed a sharp drop in daytime temperatures and authorities have ordered a week-long closure of schools to protect children’s health, PTI reported. Overcast skies, drizzle, and cold winds made conditions tough. Cold spell has paralysed daily life. Residents have been asked to take precautions as temperatures are expected to plummet further.