Weather Today: The IMD has issued orange and yellow alerts for several regions, predicting cold wave and fog conditions. Dense fog on Sunday caused several flight cancellations and continues to affect operations. IMD has issued warnings for cold wave and fog in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. (Hindustan Times) Dense fog enveloped Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh early Monday morning, reducing visibility to a few metres. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert fort East Uttar Pradesh as it has warned of dense fog and cold wave conditions today while western areas of the state are on yellow alert. The national capital is also on IMD’s yellow alert today. In a post on X, IMD said: “Dense to very dense fog is expected during night and morning hours over parts of East Uttar Pradesh (till 23rd) and Punjab, Haryana, West Uttar Pradesh and North Madhya Pradesh (till 22nd). Bihar, Jharkhand and interior Odisha may experience dense fog till December 24.” On Sunday, cold day conditions and fog spelled out the weather conditions in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, while snowfall in higher parts of Jammu and Kashmir marked the beginning of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ – the 40-day harshest winter period that will end on January 30. The sudden cold wave can be attributed to Western Disturbance and presence of Northwest Indian Current. The weather agency has predicted heavy rainfall, snowfall and blizzard for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh with reduced visibility, less than 400 meters. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand may brace for “scattered rainfall/snowfall” till December 24. IMD has warned of cold wave conditions in Karnataka and Telangana on December 22 and 23. Cold day conditions “Cold day conditions most likely in isolated pockets of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand on 22nd; Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh on 22nd and 23rd December,” IMD said in its latest press release. Delhi Weather Today In the national capital, the minimum temperature is expected to settle between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 20 to 22 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD. Footage from Delhi’s ITO and UP’s Ayodhya shows dense fog blanketing the region. The meteorological department has predicted moderate fog for Monday. Fog disrupts flight operations A day earlier, dense fog disrupted flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport as more than 105 flights were cancelled, including 55 arrivals and 52 departures. Notably, more than 450 flights were delayed due to low visibility conditions, PTI reported. Delhi Airport issued a passenger advisory at 7:00 AM saying, “Low visibility procedures are underway at Delhi Airport. According to Airport Authority of India officials, nearly 11 flights have also been canceled at Srinagar International Airport due to the weather conditions.