The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns of an intense cold wave engulfing North India, causing plummeting temperatures and dense to very dense fog in the North and Northwestern regions over the next two days. The states of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan are on cold wave alert. New Delhi experiences its coldest day in two years, with the maximum temperature at Safdarjung dropping to 12.5 degrees Celsius, seven notches below normal.

Simultaneously, South India braces for heavy rainfall for the next 2-3 days, with Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep expected to witness intense downpours until January 8. The IMD also predicts light rainfall in Madhya Pradesh throughout the week, with the possibility of isolated rainfall in Uttar Pradesh on January 5.