A cold wave warning has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for portions of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh until December 24. In its December 20 forecast, the IMD stated that "cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are extremely possible in various portions of Himachal Pradesh during the 20th-24th of December." "Isolated areas of Himachal Pradesh are anticipated to see cold wave conditions on the 25th and 26th."

Additionally, till December 22, the meteorological service issued a warning about heavy fog in certain areas of East Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh in the late evening and early morning.  Several parts of Punjab and Haryana have continued to experience bitterly cold temperatures in recent days; on December 19, Faridkot recorded a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius.

With a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius on Friday, Pathankot, Punjab, saw extreme cold. At 4.6 and 4 degrees Celsius, respectively, Bathinda and Gurdaspur shivered. At 4.2 degrees Celsius, Sirsa was the coldest location in Haryana. Karnal picked up at 6.8 degrees Celsius, while Hisar too had a chilly night with a temperature of 5.6 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature recorded in Bhiwani was 6.9 degrees Celsius.

Emergency services and local authorities are on high alert to address weather-related disruptions. The IMD has recommended the use of layered clothing, staying indoors when possible, and avoiding unnecessary exposure to the cold. Farmers in affected areas have also been advised to cover crops and livestock to prevent frost damage.

This wave of cold weather follows recent snowfall in the Himalayan regions, contributing to the drop in temperatures across the plains. Experts have attributed these conditions to an active western disturbance influencing the weather patterns in northern India.

As the cold intensifies, citizens are urged to stay updated through official IMD bulletins and follow safety guidelines to minimize risks during this harsh weather spell.