The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast of moderate fog on Thursday was surpassed by the prevalence of a dense layer of fog engulfing regions, including Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura. Flight operations at Delhi airport faced disruptions due to low visibility, leading to delays amidst foggy conditions.

As of 5:30 AM on Thursday, January 4, visibility in various parts of India ranged from 25 to 500 meters, impacting cities like Bareilly, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. Moradabad continued to grapple with dense fog, exacerbating the ongoing cold wave affecting multiple parts of the country.

In response to the severe cold, Noida and Greater Noida authorities ordered the closure of schools for students up to Class 8 until January 6. Looking ahead, the weather department anticipates no significant change in minimum temperatures for east India over the next two days, followed by a subsequent rise. Central India is expected to witness a gradual increase in minimum temperatures over the next three days.