Weather Forecast for 21 January 2026: Relief Soon for Delhi-NCR, Snow Returns to Himachal and Jammu-Kashmir

New Delhi: Residents of Delhi-NCR facing severe cold can expect some relief soon, while Rajasthan will feel the impact of an approaching Western Disturbance. Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are set to witness another spell of snowfall, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Delhi-NCR Weather Outlook
Northern India continues to experience bitter cold, although daytime sunshine has led to a slight rise in maximum temperatures. States including Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh are still under the influence of cold waves. However, regions in Kashmir, Rajasthan, and a few other areas have seen minor temperature increases.

Punjab and Haryana are experiencing severe cold, with Amritsar recording a minimum temperature of 2.8°C. Chandigarh registered a low of 6°C. The IMD has indicated that cold conditions are expected to persist in these regions over the coming days.

In Delhi, light clouds are expected on Wednesday morning, with localized fog in some areas. The capital’s maximum temperature is likely to reach 24°C, while the minimum will range between 6°C and 8°C. The IMD has predicted occasional sunshine and scattered light rainfall, accompanied by winds at speeds of 30–40 km/h over the next few days.

City-Wise Temperature Forecast (19 Jan 2026)

City	Max Temp	Min Temp
Delhi	25°C	07°C
Mumbai	29°C	21°C
Kolkata	30°C	13°C
Chennai	30°C	21°C
Lucknow	25°C	09°C
Patna	23°C	12°C
Ranchi	28°C	12°C
Jaipur	23°C	11°C
Bhopal	22°C	11°C
Shimla	16°C	05°C
Chandigarh	24°C	07°C

Himachal Pradesh Braces for Snow
The Shimla Weather Centre has issued a yellow alert for five districts—Kangra, Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur—warning of extreme cold. While the weather will remain dry until Wednesday, a powerful Western Disturbance is expected to trigger snowfall and rainfall across the state between Thursday and Saturday. The disturbance is likely to affect northwest India starting Wednesday.

Rain Likely in Rajasthan
A new Western Disturbance may bring light to moderate rainfall across parts of Rajasthan this week. Between 22–24 January, areas including Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Shekhawati may receive rain, while another disturbance from 26–28 January could affect other regions. Some areas, including Jaipur, Ajmer, and Bharatpur divisions, may witness rainfall with occasional thunderstorms on 23 January.

Snowfall Expected in Jammu & Kashmir
Most locations in Kashmir have seen a drop in minimum temperatures. According to the IMD, the valley is likely to experience rainfall and snowfall spells this week, with plains potentially seeing their first snowfall of the season. Two consecutive Western Disturbances between 22–24 January and 26–28 January may trigger widespread light to moderate rain or snow, with heavier snowfall expected in select areas, particularly on 23 and 27 January.

National Weather Overview
Northern Punjab and surrounding areas are experiencing a weakening Western Disturbance as a cyclonic circulation. Upper tropospheric westerly winds at 5.8 km altitude are forming a trough over approximately 73°E longitude and 32°N latitude. Northwest Uttar Pradesh is also affected by an upper-level cyclonic circulation between 1.5 km and 3.1 km above sea level. From the night of 21 January, northwest India is likely to be impacted by successive strong Western Disturbances.

Subtropical westerly jet streams at 12.6 km altitude are contributing to north India’s winter weather patterns, while mid-tropospheric westerly winds have weakened over 65°E longitude and 32°N latitude, indicating the gradual dissipation of current disturbances.