Key Takeaways
- A fresh western disturbance will bring rain and snow to North India from February 1, coinciding with Budget Day.
- Northern states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand will see light to moderate snowfall/rain on Feb 1-2.
- Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, and West UP will experience isolated light rain and a sharp temperature drop.
- Southern states, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, are also set for widespread rainfall over the next five days, with isolated heavy spells.
North India braces for a wintry blast as a fresh spell of rain and snow is forecast from February 1, the day the Union Budget 2026 is presented in Parliament. The chill is expected to grip the region for two days.
Western Disturbance to Impact Northwest India
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has attributed the incoming cold wave to a fresh western disturbance. Under its influence, light to moderate rainfall or snowfall is very likely over , Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, , and Uttarakhand on February 1 and 2.
Isolated light rainfall is also predicted over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh on the same days, leading to a noticeable dip in temperatures.
Rain Alert for Southern States
Simultaneously, a cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal is set to bring wet weather to the south. Scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall is very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, and Mahe during the next five days.
The IMD has warned of isolated heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on January 31 and February 1, and over Kerala and Mahe on February 1 and 2.
Meanwhile, dense fog conditions are also expected to reduce visibility in several parts of the plains, adding to travel disruptions.
