A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Oregon, United States, on Thursday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported, with its epicentre about 10 km deep beneath the Pacific Ocean. Authorities said no immediate reports of damage or casualties have emerged, and there are no tsunami warnings in effect. The quake occurred in a seismically active offshore region near the Oregon–California border, where tectonic movements are common, and officials are monitoring the situation closely as further assessments continue. The event is part of recurrent Pacific Northwest seismic activity. (PC: Reuters)

Delhi recorded its coldest night in three years on Thursday as the minimum temperature at Safdarjung fell to 2.9 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department said. The last lower reading was 2.6 degrees on January 18, 2023. Dense to very dense fog covered many areas during night and morning hours. Visibility at Palam airport dropped to nearly 50 metres at 5.30 am, while Safdarjung reported about 100 metres. Other stations also saw low readings, including Palam at 2.3 degrees and Ayanagar at 2.7 degrees. The IMD said fog is likely till January 19. (PC: HT)

Two healthcare workers in West Bengal have tested positive for Nipah virus, officials said. The patients, a male nurse and a female nurse, work at the same private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas. Both are in critical condition and on ventilator support. The cases were first reported earlier this week as suspected infections. After confirmation, the Centre sent a national outbreak response team to assist the state. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda spoke to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and assured full support. Around 120 contacts have been identified, and testing is ongoing. (PC: iStock)

Delhi and nearby cities are seeing colder nights than hill towns like Shimla, as a cold wave grips north India. The India Meteorological Department said minimum temperatures in Delhi may fall to 3 to 4.2 degrees Celsius. Shimla is likely to record a higher minimum of about 9 degrees. The IMD warned of cold wave or severe cold wave conditions in parts of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh over the next two days. Dense fog is also expected in many states till Thursday. The weather office said there is no major rain or snow forecast this week.

Heater and brazier use during the winter has led to a rise in deaths across North India. Recent cases were reported from Delhi, Punjab, Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir. In Tarn Taran, a young couple and their infant died after fumes built up in a closed room. In Delhi, a family of three died in a flat fire linked to a room heater. Doctors say carbon monoxide is a “silent killer” because it has no smell or colour. In closed rooms, heaters burn oxygen and release toxic gas. Victims often feel dizzy or weak before losing consciousness. (PC: X)

Dense fog returned to many parts of north India on Saturday after unusual rain lowered temperatures. Punjab, Haryana and north Rajasthan saw poor visibility during early morning and late night hours. Roads and trains moved slowly. Cold winds kept the chill strong even during the day. Fog also spread to Delhi-NCR and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Flights at Delhi and Hindon airports were delayed due to low visibility. Passengers were asked to check flight updates. In contrast, south India may see rain, especially in coastal Tamil Nadu, while other areas stay mostly cloudy.

India is set for sharp weather contrasts on Thursday, January 8, the weather office said. A severe cold wave and dense to very dense fog are likely across parts of northwest, central and northeast India. Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh may see very low visibility. Rail, road and air travel could be affected. Cold conditions are also expected in pockets of Himachal Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. In Delhi, the day may stay cold and dry, with temperatures near 15 to 17 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal may bring heavy rain and storms to parts of Tamil Nadu and nearby areas. (PC: India Today)

The UK is bracing for Storm Goretti as snow and ice continue to disrupt daily life. The Met Office has issued amber warnings for snow and strong winds. Parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England could see up to 20cm of snow. A village in Scotland reported snow depths of more than 30cm. Hundreds of schools have shut, and people in some areas remain trapped indoors. Travel has been hit across Europe, with many flights cancelled. The Met Office said Storm Goretti is expected to arrive on Thursday evening and could cause severe disruption through Friday. (PC: Reuters)

Severe snow and ice caused major travel disruption across parts of Europe, killing six people and grounding hundreds of flights. Five people died in road accidents in France, mostly linked to black ice, while a woman in Sarajevo was killed when a snow-laden tree fell on her. Airports in Paris and Amsterdam cancelled large numbers of flights as crews cleared runways and de-iced planes. At Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, more than 400 departures were cancelled, leaving thousands stranded. Dutch airline KLM said it faced shortages of de-icing fluid due to extreme conditions. Rail services in the Netherlands and France were also hit. (PC: BBC)

Delhi is set to face colder days with the weather office warning of dense to very dense fog over the next few days. The IMD has issued a yellow alert till Thursday. Parts of the city recorded “cold day” conditions on Tuesday. The Safdarjung station logged a maximum of 15.7°C, while Palam reported 13°C, both below normal. Experts say cold northwesterly winds and fog are keeping daytime temperatures low. Maximum values may fall to 12–15°C, while minimums may drop to 3–4°C in the coming week. Morning fog is also likely to reduce visibility across the region. (PC: HT)