North India is set to endure a relentless cold wave and dense fog for the next 5 days, warns the India Meteorological Department. The latest bulletin predicts dense to very dense fog and cold to severe cold day conditions, with the plains of Northwest India experiencing cold wave to severe cold wave conditions for the next 3 days. Flight and train delays persist due to poor visibility, affecting travel plans across the country. While Delhi's IGI airport sees a slight improvement, most parts of North India continue to grapple with chilling temperatures and disrupted transportation. The prolonged cold spell since December 29, 2023, shows no signs of immediate relief.

Tamil Nadu's Ooty experiences an unusual cold spell with temperatures near zero degrees, affecting both locals and agriculture. Frost-covered lawns and dense fog create visibility issues. People resort to bonfires for warmth. Official data shows temperatures as low as 1 degree Celsius in some areas. Environmentalists link the unusual cold to global warming and El-nino effects. Tea plantations and vegetable farms face challenges, impacting production. Residents cope with health issues like difficulty breathing and headaches. The delayed onset of cold poses a significant challenge, prompting concerns about the region's climatic shifts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts an enduring cold wave gripping northern India, with dense to very dense fog disrupting states like Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab for the next four days. Travel, especially train journeys, is expected to face disruptions due to limited visibility. IMD's alerts include predictions of Cold Day to Severe Cold Day conditions in Haryana, Chandigarh, West Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The chilling weather is set to persist, prompting residents to prepare for an extended period of cold and foggy conditions in the region.

Dense fog and persistent cold wave conditions continue to wreak havoc in parts of North India, including Delhi and neighboring states. The India Meteorological Department reports very dense fog in isolated areas of Punjab, Haryana, West Rajasthan, and Bihar. Visibility drops to a mere 25 meters in several locations, impacting transportation. As of today, 18 trains to Delhi are delayed, and flights at the Delhi airport are affected. The IMD issues a caution, advising against unnecessary travel. Cold wave conditions persist in Punjab and Haryana, with temperatures below normal levels. The weather department predicts dense to very dense fog for the next five days, further disrupting daily life and travel.      

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Mindanao, Philippines, as reported by the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The quake, at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), occurred on Wednesday. No immediate reports of damage or casualties are available. Authorities are monitoring the situation, and residents are urged to stay alert. Earthquakes are common in the Philippines due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates meet. The depth of the quake, as stated by GFZ, provides insights into its origin within the Earth's crust.

A sudden arctic blast blankets North-West England, causing road and school closures. Lancashire Police shut Grane Road and Elton Road in Belthorn due to hazardous conditions after a crash. Merseyside grapples with 20 closed schools as Liverpool faces a snowy morning rush hour. Merseyrail adapts to the cold, running initial services without passengers for safety checks. Traffic issues persist despite overnight gritting efforts by Liverpool City Council. Lancashire experiences dangerous conditions, leading to the closure of major roads. Gritting teams and snow ploughs are deployed across the region, but uncertainty looms over the duration of closures. Motorists are urged to stay vigilant amid challenging weather conditions.    

The Met Office has extended snow and ice warnings across the UK as an Arctic blast plunges the country into freezing conditions. Over 100 schools are forced to close, with yellow warnings for snow and ice until Thursday causing travel disruption and power cut concerns. Temperatures are predicted to plummet to as low as -15C in some regions. Rail operators, including South Western Railway and ScotRail, warn of service disruptions. London Fire Brigade issues a hypothermia risk warning. Residents in Cheshire and northern England wake to snow, and the freezing weather is expected to persist throughout the week.

A magnitude 3.6 earthquake shook Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir at 8:53 am, as reported by the National Center for Seismology. The quake, at a depth of 5 km, prompted NCS to tweet the details. This follows a similar incident in central Assam yesterday, where a 3.6 magnitude earthquake hit East Karbi Anglong district. NCS, the Government of India's earthquake monitoring agency, continues its vigilance. No major damage reported in both cases, but locals in various districts felt the tremors. Earthquake preparedness remains crucial in seismic-prone regions.

Delhi continues to shiver under a harsh coldwave, with temperatures dropping to 4.8 degrees Celsius. Thick fog blankets the city, causing chaos in air and train travel. Safdarjung recorded a visibility of 50 meters at 0730 hrs IST, leading to the delay of 30 flights and cancellation of 17. Train operations are also heavily affected, with nearly 30 trains running late. The India Meteorological Department issues a red alert for parts of Punjab and Haryana as cold to severe cold conditions persist. Passengers at airports and railway stations face delays amid the challenging weather conditions.

The Met Office expanded weather warnings across the United Kingdom on Monday as an icy blast of Arctic air brings snow and freezing temperatures. Yellow and amber alerts now encompass nearly all of the UK through Thursday. The warnings highlight risks of travel chaos, power cuts and infrastructure damage from accumulating snow and ice. Forecasters predict up to 10 centimeters of snow in Scotland and northern England. Bitterly cold temperatures raise health concerns as well. The expansive alerts come on the heels of recent deadly flooding across Britain. With no reprieve in sight, the Met Office urges vigilance and preparation as the unsettled winter weather persists.